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Recollections 

OF A 

Georgia Loyalist 



■mi iW^nidBy 



7 




Elizabeth Lichtenstein Johnston 
in early life 



Recollections 

OF A 

Georgia Loyalist 



ELIZABETH LICHTENSTEIN JOHNSTON 

Written in 1836 



EDITED BY 

REV. ARTHUR WENTWORTH EATON, B.A. 

Author of ^^ The Church of England in Nova Scotia and 

the Tory Clergy of the Revolutions''^ " Acadian 

Legends and Lyrics,^'' " The Olivestob 

Hamiltonsy'' etc.^ etc. 



THE BANKSIDE PRESS 
M. F. MANSFIELD & COMPANY 

New York and London 
I 90 I 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies RecEiveo 

APR. 6 1901 

COPYWQHT ENTRY 

CLASS Cb XXc No. 
COPY A. 



Copyright, 1901 

by M. F. Mansfield & Co 

New York 






PREFACE 

/^NE of the most interesting chapters of 
^^ American history, the chapter that 
fairly describes the Loyalists, or Royalists, of 
the Revolution, and adequately tells their sub- 
sequent fate, for the most part remains yet to 
be written. It is commonly estimated that 
when the North American colonies had finally 
become the United States, the population of 
the country was less by a hundred thousand 
than before the war began. To England, 
Upper Canada, the West India Islands, and 
last, but by no means least, the fertile Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia, the proud, unflinching, 
sorrowing Tories flocked. To the latter 
Province, which then included the sister Prov- 
ince of New Brunswick, certainly fully thirty 
thousand went, many with Howe's fleet at 
the evacuation of Boston, far more from New 
York, when the proclamation of independence 
was finally made. Of the many interesting 
facts of Nova Scotia history, a few, such as 

5 



Preface 

the tragical expulsion of the Acadians, are 
comparatively well known, but the hardly less 
tragical story of the migration of the Loyal- 
ists to Nova Scotia, and the subsequent 
changes in their eventful lives, is one that at 
last is coming to have its proper interest for 
the American mind. 

When Howe's fleet reached Halifax in 
1776, the little town founded by Cornwallis 
and his English emigrants only in 1749, was 
taxed beyond its utmost limits to provide food 
and the most temporary shelter for so large a 
crowd. When Shelburne and the adjacent 
country in the more southerly part of the 
Province was reached by the New York peo- 
ple in 1784, for these cultivated men and 
women, many of them from the most luxuri- 
ous American homes, there were at first only 
tents and rude cabins for shelter, and the 
scantiest provision for the other needs of 
life. If the actual hardships of even a few 
of these Loyalist families were ever com- 
pletely told, the narrative would lack few 
points of interest of the saddest romance. 

Of many of the Nova Scotia Loyalists the 
names alone are sufficient to awaken deep in- 
terest in the whole story of the migration. 



Preface 

We have, for example, the name of the second 
Mather Byles, rector of Christ Church, Bos- 
ton, who with his family fled to Halifax, and 
was proscribed and banished in 1778. We 
have Jacob Bailey, the " Frontier Mission- 
ary," whose extraordinary sufferings from the 
patriots in Maine, and whose final settlement 
in the rectorship of St. Luke's Church, An- 
napolis, Nova Scotia, are well-known facts. 
We have Daniel, John Murray, and Jonathan 
Bliss, of Massachusetts, who long occupied 
distinguished positions in the judiciary of 
New Brunswick. We have Gen. Timothy 
Ruggles, of Hardwick, President of the Con- 
gress of Nine Colonies at New York, in 
1765 ; Dr. John Halliburton, of Rhode Island 
(father of Sir Brenton Halliburton, eighth 
Chief Justice of Nova Scotia) ; the Hon. Rev. 
Jonathan Odell, of New Jersey, one of the 
poets of the Revolution; the Hon. Thomas 
Barclay of New York, who in 1 799 succeeded 
Sir John Temple, Bart., as England's Consul- 
General to the United States; and among 
other prominent public men. Sir John Went- 
worth, Governor of New Hampshire, who in 
1792 became Governor of Nova Scotia and 
in 1795 was created a baronet; and Dr. 

7 



Preface 

Charles Inglis, of New York, who in 1787 
became the first Colonial Bishop of the Brit- 
ish Empire. 

Among the many hundreds of names in 
Sabine's " Loyalists," the catalogue of which 
carries one completely through the alphabet, 
are to be found the names of Lewis and 
Andrew Johnston. Of Lewis Johnston, 
"residence unknown," it is said that he was 
banished and attainted, and his estate confis- 
cated, and that in 1794 he represented to the 
British Government, by his attorney, John 
Irvine, that at the time of his banishment 
several large debts were due him in America, 
which he had not been able to recover. Of 
Andrew Johnston, captain in the Florida 
Rangers, it is merely said that he was killed 
in the attack on Augusta, Ga., in 1780. In 
the names of these men, who were father and 
son, there is nothing to suggest unusual in- 
terest, nor does Sabine apparently know 
more about them than he has here told, but 
we venture to believe that the following pages 
of reminiscence by a member of the distin- 
guished Georgia family to which they be- 
longed, will not by any means be found want- 
ing, at least in variety of incident and in 
8 



Preface 

strong human feeling. The " Recollections " 
were written in 1836, by Mrs. William Mar- 
tin Johnston, then aged seventy-two, a woman 
of strong character, clear intellect, and deep 
religious feeling, and with a life behind her 
unusually full of vicissitude and change. As 
the reminiscences show, she was born and 
married in Georgia, at the time of the war 
was obliged to flee to Florida, thence went 
to Scotland, next settled in the West Indies, 
and at last, by a singular fate, became, as she 
remained till her death, a resident of Nova 
Scotia. In that Province and in other parts 
of Canada her descendants have held, and 
still hold, positions of the highest social and 
political importance. That these " Recollec- 
tions " are of very wide historical or even 
biographical interest, no one could possibly 
claim ; but the writer, who belonged to an 
important colonial family, lived through an 
exciting period of American history, bore her 
share in the heavy personal misfortunes of 
the political party to which she and her fam- 
ily belonged, spent her subsequent life in two 
separate British colonies, took many long 
voyages in uncomfortable sailing vessels on 
stormy seas, and left descendants who have 

9 



Preface 

always stood high in the public esteem. Thus 
her fortunes cannot fail to be interesting to 
any who have followed sympathetically the 
fate of the Loyalists of the Revolution. 

One of the sons of the writer of these 
reminiscences, Judge James William John- 
ston, born in Jamaica in 1792, was succes- 
sively Solicitor-General, Attorney-General, 
Judge in Equity, and Governor-elect of Nova 
Scotia. Her two sons-in-law were Judge 
Thomas Ritchie of Annapolis, First Justice 
in the Court of Common Pleas, and the Hon. 
William Bruce Almon, M.D., M.L.C., a 
Halifax physician of the highest professional 
and social standing. Her grandsons, among 
others, were the Hon. John William Ritchie, 
Solicitor- General and Judge in Equity of 
the Supreme Court; Sir William Johnston 
Ritchie, Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova 
Scotia, Chief Justice of New Brunswick, 
Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, and 
Chief Justice of Canada; Hon. Joseph Nor- 
man Ritchie, Judge of the Supreme Court of 
Nova Scotia; Rev. James J. Ritchie, Rector 
of St. Luke's Church, Annapolis; Hon. 
William Johnston Almon, M.D., a distin- 
guished physician of Halifax, and a member 



Preface 

of the Senate of Canada; Andrew Belcher 
Almon, barrister (residing at Newport, R. I. ) ; 
and the Rev. Foster H. Almon, a clergyman 
of Halifax, the last three of whom are also 
great-grandsons of the second, and great- 
great-grandsons of the first. Dr. Mather Byles. 
The history of the Johnstons of Georgia, 
Jamaica, and Nova Scotia, is briefly this. 
About 1750, Dr. Lewis Johnston, surgeon 
in the Royal Navy, on Her Majesty's ship 
Centiiriouy a young Scotchman of excellent 
family, the son of Dr. James Johnston, R. N., 
and his wife, Jane Nesbitt, married in St. 
Kitts, in the West Indies, and then settled 
as a physician in Savannah, Ga. There, 
until the war broke out, he was in the best 
city practice, owning also, a little out of the 
town, a plantation called " Annandale," after 
the famous estate of the Johnstones in Scot- 
land. For a number of years he occupied the 
important position of Treasurer of the Prov- 
ince and President of His Majesty's Council, 
and so high did he stand in the public esti- 
mation that for years after he was obliged to 
leave - Savannah he was consulted in matters 
of importance by his old patients and friends 
in the Province where he had so long honor- 



Preface 

ably lived. In 1782, for his loyalty to the 
Crown, he was compelled to leave Georgia for 
Florida, and until East Florida was ceded to 
the Spaniards in 1784, he lived at St. Augus- 
tine. When it was necessary for him to 
leave Florida, the British Government gave 
him a transport to take him to any part of 
His Majesty's dominions he wished, and he 
naturally chose to return to Scotland, his 
native land. The remainder of his life he 
spent in Edinburgh, where he worshipped at 
the Greyfriars' Church, and where he died, 
October 9, 1 796, at the age of seventy-two, 
his remains being interred in the old ceme- 
tery at the foot of the Calton Hill. 

Dr. Johnston's wife, I^aleah Peyton, who 
before her marriage was the protegee of her 
uncle, William Martin, a planter in St. Kitts, 
bore her husband, it is said, some twenty 
children, two sons of whom were William 
Martin Johnston, M. D. , and the Andrew 
Johnston of Sabine's " Loyalists," both cap- 
tains on the Tory side in the war. In the 
service of their King were also enlisted two 
younger sons of the family, Alexander and 
John. Of the sisters there were Elizabeth, 
wife of Dr. Irwin of Savannah; Laleah, 



Preface 

Sarah, Nancy, and Rachel. The author of 
these " Recollections," as we have seen, was 
the wife of Captain William Martin Johnston, 
and in 1848, when she was eighty-four years 
old, she gave her grandson, the Hon. Wil- 
liam Johnston Almon, M.D., in writing, the 
following additional statement of the part 
taken by her husband and his brothers in the 
Revolution. Mrs. Johnston writes : 

*' Dr. Lewis Johnston had two sons cap- 
tains in the army : William Martin Johnston, 
captain in the New York Volunteers, after- 
ward numbered the Third American Regi- 
ment, who saw much active service and proved 
himself a brave officer, and Captain Andrew 
Johnston, who belonged to the King's 
Rangers, well known as Colonel Brown's 
Corps. In 1 780, when his regiment was shut 
up by the enemy in the city of Augusta, a 
hundred and thirty miles from Savannah, and 
the men were in want of provisions. Colonel 
Brown asked who would venture on a sortie, 
to bring in provisions. Andrew Johnston in- 
stantly said he would go, provided he might 
choose his men. He was so beloved that all 
his men would have gone had he wished. 
He took as many as he wanted, went off, 

13 



Preface 

achieved most gallantly his object, but in re- 
turning, sad to relate, received a shot in the 
back and was killed. He was much la- 
mented, for he was not only a brave officer 
but was most amiable in his disposition and 
exemplary in his character. " 

" His excellent father was sitting in Coun- 
cil with the Governor, Sir James Wright, 
when a countryman was shown in, just ar- 
rived from Augusta. On asking him the 
news from there he said, 'Not much, only 
there had been a scrimmage. ' Being asked 
if any lives were lost, he answered, 'Only 
Captain Johnston's.* We may draw a veil 
over the father's feelings ; of course, he re- 
tired instantly. I will relate one more cir- 
cumstance to show the heroism of the mother, 
who was living at the time of the siege of 
Savannah, though dead at the time of her son 
Andrew's death. The siege of Savannah in 
1779 was made by the combined forces of 
French and Americans with about 10,600 
men, when the British force was not more 
than 1,800 men. Colonel Maitland with 500 
men had previously gone on an expedition 
on the Carolina side, and it was feared he 
would not be able to effect a junction with 



Preface 

the troops in Savannah. The two Captain 
Johnstons were within the lines, at each ex- 
tremity. They had two younger brothers, 
Alexander and John — the latter aged nearly 
fifteen and the former nearly sixteen — who 
wished much to join their brothers, but Mrs. 
Johnston would not hear of it, and told her 
elder sons, who also wished it, not to say a 
word more ; she had risked two sons already 
and she would not have the others leave her 
on any account. All her family but myself 
had gone for safety from the balls and shells 
thrown into the town, to an island opposite 
the town, and in the barn in which our fam- 
ily were, there were fifty-eight women and 
children. All had dear friends in the lines. 
I remained with Mrs. Johnston and her two 
lads, as I was engaged to her oldest son and 
wished to stay to see him as often as I could. 
One morning Captain William M. Johnston 
came up in haste to tell his mother to set out 
immediately to the wharf and get a friend 
there to get us a boat, to cross without loss 
of time to the island, as the enemy were 
going to open a heavy cannonade upon the 
town. We set off without delay, and just as 
we turned the first corner of the street their 

15 



Preface 

batteries were opened, and the balls whizzed 
about our ears at an awful rate ; never can I 
forget it. The firing was kept up fiercely for 
a good while, and at last Mrs. Johnston 
stopped in the middle of the street, and said : 
* My boys, I was about to disgrace you ; go 
and join your brothers ' ; which they did. 
Alex went to his brother William, who was 
quick-tempered and had great veneration for 
his mother. William thought the boy had 
run away without her leave, and accordingly 
received him, before he could explain, with 
a slap on the face for his disobedience. 
When the matter was explained, however, 
William kept the boy through the siege, and 
later he became a lieutenant in the New York 
Volunteers. John (who was the father of 
Judge Johnston of Trinidad) went to his 
brother Andrew, who was very good-natured 
and more patient in hearing his story, and 
remained with him and afterward became a 
merchant. 

" During the siege Colonel Maitland made 
his way to us, and raised the spirits of the peo- 
ple very much, and on the 9th of October, 
1779, at break of day, the enemy attacked the 
city with small arms. Previously the shells 
16 



Preface 

and cannon balls had done little damage, and 
the shot going over our men's heads, gave us 
far less fear than the appalling sound of the 
small arms. We all had near and dear con- 
nections in the line. Mrs. Johnston had her 
good old husband, and she sat in silence 
without uttering a word ; I had my father 
and another very dear to me, who six weeks 
later became my husband. At lo o'clock we 
got word that the enemy were beaten off, 
and that our friends were all safe, and O what 
thanksgiving, what joy we felt at so unex- 
pected a deliverance! The French fought 
gallantly, too. We soon made war on the 
poultry and animals, and had a good dinner 
prepared for our friends. In all the Ameri- 
can accounts they take little notice of our 
memorable siege. With the American army 
was the Polish Count Pulaski, and he was 
killed that morning. 

" Your grandfather, my husband, after the 
war was over was on half pay, and in 1 784-5 
prosecuted his medical studies in Edinburgh, 
these having been interrupted by the war. 
Finally he settled and was for many years an 
eminent and successful Doctor of Medicine 
in Kingston, in the Island of Jamaica. I 

17 



Preface 

have given you, dear William, a rather 
lengthy detail, from which you may extract 
whatever you like for publication. As you 
know, I was present through the siege and 
myself saw very nearly everything I have 
here described. 

" Your affectionate grandmother, 

" E. Johnston." 
" Halifax, /«/)/ 12, 1848." 

" It will be observed that the war which had opened in 
Massachusetts was steadily drifting southward. Great 
campaigns had been fought in what are known as the Mid- 
dle States, which continued to be the theatre of operations 
for several years. In the extreme South, matters were in 
a deplorable condition. Tories were numerous, and in 
many places civil war reigned. The patriots were so few 
in numbers that the enemy prepared a careful campaign for 
the capture of Savannah and the conquest of Georgia. 
Five thousand additional troops were to be landed at 
Charleston, and a strong force of Indians was to be brought 
from Florida and Alabama to assail the frontier settlements, 
while the commandant at Detroit was to send others to 
join them from the Northwest. 

' ' General Prevost, who was in command of a mingled 
force of regulars, Tories, and Indians in East Florida, 
sent two expeditions in the autumn of the year 1778 from 
St. Augustine, Florida. They committed many outrages 
and brought away an enormous amount of plunder. In 
the latter part of November, Clinton despatched Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Canjpbell, with two thousand troops, to invade 
Georgia. The troops went by the sea and landed at Sa- 
18 



Preface 

vannah on the morning of December 29th. The patriot 
general, Robert Howe, of North Carolina, with less than 
a thousand dispirited men, hurried up from Sunbury, and 
three miles below Savannah, at Brewton's Hill, fought a 
battle with a much superior force, and was badly defeated. 
In the flight through rice-fields and streams, a hundred 
patriots were drowned and four hundred made prisoners. 
The others who succeeded in escaping took refuge in South 
Carolina, while the enemy occupied Savannah." — Ellis' 
" History of the United States," vol. ii., pp. 524-5. 

" A fleet sailed from New York via Sandy Hook on the 
8th of November, 1778, for Savannah. The troops were 
under the command of Colonel Campbell, of the 71st Regt. , 
and the New York Volunteers were of the expedition. On 
the 27th of November the fleet, which had been detained 
by storms, at length sailed. On the 24th of December we 
sailed into Savannah River, and on the 29th the troops 
disembarked, and were carried in flat boats and landed not 
far from the city. The enemy, who numbered about 800 
men, did not make a long stand. Our loss was 20 killed 
and wounded. The rebel loss was 80 killed and wounded, 
and 400 prisoners. On the 31st we started for the city 
and took possession of Advocate Farley's house, in which 
we found a fine library." — Extract from the letter of a 
German officer, dated Savannah, January 16, 1779, kept in 
Mrs. Johnston's possession. 

" The next year an attempt was made by the Americans, 
assisted by the French fleet, to capture Savannah, but it 
failed. In this attack Pulaski lost his life. After a regu- 
lar siege, a British fleet and army took Charleston in May, 
J780. "— Eggleston's " History of the United States," p. 
184. 

" Early in 1782 the British Parliament, perceiving the 
futility of attempts hitherto to subdue the Americans, now 

19 



Preface 

began to listen to the voice of reason and humanity, and 
steps were taken toward the establishment of peace be- 
tween the United States and Great Britain, upon the basis 
of the independence of the former. On the fourth of 
March the House of Commons passed a resolution in favor 
of peace, and active hostilities ceased. Preparations were 
now made for the evacuation of Savannah, and on the 
eleventh of July the British army evacuated it, after an oc- 
cupation of three years and a half. Wayne, in considera- 
tion of the services of Colonel James Jackson, appointed 
him to ' receive the keys of Savannah from a committee of 
British officers. ' He performed the service with dignity, 
and on the same day the American army entered Savan- 
nah, when royal power ceased in Georgia forever. . . . 

• ' Governor Martin called a special meeting of the Leg- 
islature in Savannah about three weeks after the evacua- 
tion. They assembled in the house of General Mcintosh. 
. . . The session was short, but marked by decision and 
energy. On the first Monday in January following, the 
constitutional session commenced at the same place. 
Every branch of the new government was speedily organ- 
ized, and the free and independent State of Georgia began 
its career." — Lossing's " Field Book of the Revolution," 
vol. iix. , p. 741. 

In a note Lossing says : 

"Between the 12th and 25th of July (1782), seven 
thousand persons, according to British accounts, left Sa- 
vannah, consisting of 1,200 British regulars and Loyalists, 
500 women and children. 300 Indians, and 5,000 ne- 
groes. Governor Wright and some of the civil and mili- 
tary officers went to Charleston, General Clarke, and part 
of the British regulars to New York, Colonel Brown's 
rangers and the Indians to St. Augustine, and the re- 
mainder under convoy of the Zebra frigate, the Vulture 
20 



Preface 

sloop-of-war, and other armed vessels, to the West Indies. 
It is estimated that nearly seven-eighths of the slaves in 
Georgia were carried off now and on previous occasions, by 
the British. " 

The last battle for independence in Georgia 
was fought between Colonel Jackson and 
some British troops on Skidaway Island, 
below Savannah, on the 25th of July, 1782. 



21 



INTRODUCTION 

BY 

HON. WILLIAM JOHNSTON ALMON, M.D. 
Senator of the Dominion of Canada 

^~r^HE following " Recollections " were 
-"- written by my grandmother, Mrs. 
Johnston, from memory, for the information 
of her grandchildren. She was, as she states, 
the only daughter of John Lichtenstein 
(anglicized Lightenstone), who was born in 
Cronstadt, near St. Petersburg, Russia, 
where his father had settled and where the 
latter conducted an academy for the edu- 
cation of youth. 

Vitus Bering, a native of Denmark, and 
an admiral in the Russian navy under Peter 
the Great, from whom the Bering Straits re- 
ceived their name (though in reality he never 
visited them, as the cape he supposed to be 
the northeast point of Asia is now proved to 

23 



Introduction 

be a cape far south of the real northeast 
cape) was a connection of the family. Cap- 
tain John Lichtenstein, the father of the 
author of this journal, had in his possession 
a stone adze fastened to a wooden handle 
with reindeer thongs, which Bering had ob- 
tained in Kamschatka and had given to his 
(Lichtenstein's) father. This, Captain Lich- 
tenstein brought to Annapolis Royal after 
the American War, and it is now in the 
Provincial Museum at Halifax, incorrectly 
labeled " Stone implement from the West 
India Islands, presented by Judge Norman 
Ritchie." 

Captain Lichtenstein died at Annapolis 
Royal and was interred in the graveyard, 
where a stone to his memory exists. He 
emigrated from Russia to Georgia, where he 
obtained a portion of land in the Island of 
Skidaway — grants of which, bearing the dates 
of George II., are in my possession. 

Mrs. Johnston, the daughter of Captain 
Lichtenstein, was married in Savannah, No- 
vember 21, 1779, ^t the early age of fifteen, 
to Captain William Martin Johnston, M.D., 
born in Savannah, May 24, 1754, a captain 
in the New York Volunteers or Third Loyal 
24 




Hon. William Johnston Almon, M.D. 
Senator of the Dominion of Canada 



Introduction 

American Regiment. Captain Johnston, at 
the commencement of the troubles between 
the revolting colonies and the mother coun- 
try, was studying medicine in Philadelphia as 
a private pupil of Dr. Rush, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence.' 

I have in my possession a series of letters 
written by Captain Johnston's father to him, 
which in my opinion in elegance of diction 
equal those of Chesterfield to his son, while 
in the morality of the 'advice they give they 
are far superior. Among other things he 
finds fault with him for a serious distur- 
bance he had had with a night watchman. 
Upon asking my grandmother (Mrs. John- 
ston) what this trouble was, she said that gen- 
tlemen in those days usually carried small 
swords in full dress, and that having what 
our American friends would call "a little 
difficulty " with the custodian of the night, 
he drew his sword on him. I, being a small 
boy at the time, inquired, " Did he run him 
through, grandmother.!* " She replied, " No, 

' Dr. Johnston died at Kingston, Jamaica, December 9, 
1807; his wife died at Halifax, Nova Scotia, "in full 
assurance of salvation through Christ," September 24, 
1848. 

25 



Introduction 

dear, he only pricked him ; but they made a 
great fuss about it. " 

To those who remember the accounts of 
the exploits of the " Mohawks " at night in 
the streets of London, as related in the pages 
of the Spectator^ it will be known that such 
encounters were not uncommon in the reign 
of Queen Anne. 

It may not be out of place here to tran- 
scribe a letter which Dr. Lewis Johnston 
wrote his son in reference to this affair : 

" Savannah, Nov. 19, 1774. 
" Dear Billy : I rec'd yours of the 2 2d 
ult. by Captain Bunner, and have a full reli- 
ance on the promise you make me of making 
'amends by your future conduct for your past 
indiscretions, which will be the best, and in- 
deed only method of atonement. I am glad 
to find by Dr. Rush's letter that your be- 
havior since that unhappy affair with the 
watchman has been unexceptional. I wish 
you had put it in his power to have added 
that your application to your studies had been 
diligent and constant, as that would have 
made me easy and happy. You owe much 
to that gentleman for the generous care he 
has taken of you. By every letter I receive 
from him I am more convinced of the friend- 
ship he has for you, and it should be your 
26 



Introduction 

care to cherish it by every means in your 
power ; this you are bound to do from a proper 
sense of gratitude, and from regard for your 
own interest. He certainly can and will be 
of much service to you in the prosecution of 
your studies if you are not much wanting in 
your own endeavor to profit by the opportu- 
nities you now enjoy." 

To this advice I may add that which he 
gave his son on the threatened outbreak of 
the rebellion, which was then looming in the 
near future : 

"Savannah, Ga., Aug: 20, 1774. 

" Dear Billy : 

"... There is one thing which I think it 
my duty to caution you against, that is, the tak- 
ing any part in the unhappy political disputes 
which I doubt not run very high in Philadel- 
phia ; these are matters you have no business 
with, and of which you cannot be supposed 
to be a competent judge. This consideration 
alone should induce you to be silent on the 
subject, but there is a prudential one which 
ought to have the greatest weight with you 
in your present situation, which is that at a 
time when men's passions and prejudices are 
so much inflamed, you cannot declare your 
sentiments even in the most modest terms 
without giving offence to one side or the 

27 



Introduction 

other, which you ought carefully to avoid, as 
it should be your study to gain the good-will 
and friendship of every person your present 
situation connects you with; this only re- 
quires your keeping your thoughts on these 
subjects to yourself. There is another thing 
of the greatest consequence, which is, to 
guard against receiving prejudices which may 
operate so strongly as to affect your whole 
future conduct and put it out of your power 
to judge impartially upon the merits of these 
disputes. In time it may perhaps become 
your duty not to remain a silent specta- 
tor while matters of such consequence are 
agitating. To answer these valuable pur- 
poses, keep your thoughts or doubts, whatever 
they may be, to yourself, and your mind so 
free and disengaged from prejudice that when 
you are better able to judge and it may be 
proper for you to take a part, you may then 
be able, without bias, to follow the dictates 
of reason, truth, and duty — that God may 
direct you to honorable pursuits is the prayer 
of Your affectionate father, 

" Lewis Johnston." 

Mr. Johnston's studies in Philadelphia were 
put a stop to by the breaking out of the Rev- 
olution, and he joined his father in Savan- 
nah, from whence they were forced to retire 
by the rebels having taken possession of the 
28 



Introduction 

city. He and his father then came to Hali- 
fax, and the former having obtained a com- 
mission as ensign in the New York Volun- 
teers, or Third Loyal American Regiment, 
was present with his regiment at the battle 
of Long Island, where Washington was de- 
feated; at the subsequent taking of New 
York; and at the storming of Fort Mont- 
gomery, where his commander. Major Grant 
(the grandfather on the mother's side of Judge 
Haliburton, the well-known author of " Sam 
Slick "), was mortally wounded and died in 
his arms. 

He was actively engaged in many other 
battles during the war, the last one he fought 
in being the battle of Eutaw Springs in 
1 78 1, where he was second in command under 
Major Sheridan, and where the New York 
Volunteers took possession of a stone house, 
and by well-directed fire from it repulsed the 
assault of the enemy, and by shooting down 
their gunners prevented the four six-pounders 
of the rebels from having any effect, thus 
enabling the British forces to rally and at- 
tack the Americans and convert what had al- 
most been a defeat into a victory. Colonel 
Washington, a relation of General Washing- 

29 



Introduction 

ton, who led the Americans in the attack 
upon the house, was wounded and taken pris- 
oner. Lord Edward Fitzgerald, afterward 
concerned in the Irish rebellion of '98, fought 
with his regiment in this battle, and like- 
wise was severely wounded. 

I may mention an incident connected with 
the defence of this stone house, exemplifying 
the effect of a panic upon a brave man, which 
was related by Captain Johnston to his 
daughter, my mother. Captain Johnston, in 
allotting posts of defence to the men of his 
company, placed in one of the most exposed 
positions one of his most reliable men, whose 
courage and intrepidity had been tested in 
many engagements, placing him at a window 
to keep up a fire upon the enemy. Shortly 
afterward, while visiting this post, he found 
the post deserted and the gun lying near the 
window. He was at a loss to account for the 
man's absence, but upon seeing a closet in 
the room he opened the door, and found the 
soldier hiding there. He commanded his 
man to come out instantly, accompanying his 
order with a prick from his sword. The man 
did so, and said : " Forgive me. Captain, this 
has never happened before; you have seen 
30 •* 



Introduction 

me in danger behave like a man. A feeling 
of panic came over me which I cannot ac- 
count for. I knew if I was taken prisoner 
no quarter would be shown me, as I am a 
marked man ; but I have known that for a 
long time. Give me my gun again and I 
will behave in a manner worthy of our corps." 
Captain Johnston did so, and the man's sub- 
sequent conduct gave him no reason to re- 
gret it. 

Captain Johnston had two brothers, An- 
drew and John, killed during the war. An- 
drew was killed while successfully leading a 
company who were taking provisions to Fort 
Johnston, which was besieged by the rebels. 

John was taken prisoner by the enemy and 
put to death in cold blood. Upon one oc- 
casion when I asked my grandmother how 
my great-uncle Jack was killed, she reluct- 
antly told me that he had been captured by 
the rebels and put to death in an ignomini- 
ous manner. I was a child at the time and 
asked if they had hanged him, not regarding 
her when I was told that little children should 
not ask questions. She acknowledged I was 
correct. I said to her : " Grandmother, when 
I become a big man you must give me grand- 

31 



Introduction 

father's sword and I will put the rebels to 
death who killed him." The old lady replied 
that that was very wicked ; that we should 
love our enemies and those who despitefully 
use us. " Besides," she added, " the debt has 
already been paid, for your grandfather, who 
was then not so good a Christian as he after- 
ward became, took it very much to heart, for 
Jack was his favorite brother. For some 
days he was absent during the day on horse- 
back, and returning one afternoon he said to 
me, 'I expect some friends here to-night, and 
would like supper for them at 1 1 o'clock ; 
tell the negroes to have food also for their 
horses. I expect about twenty men. ' I 
accordingly had supper provided, and at about 
eleven the company rode up to the house, 
dismounted, and came in. Some of them 
were gentlemen I knew, friends of your 
grandfather, but others, William, were bad- 
looking men, not gentlemen. After supper 
they remounted their horses, and your grand- 
father stopped a moment to put on his sword 
and make ready his pistols, and to bid me 
good-bye. I asked him when he would be 
back. He answered, ^ Bet, if I return at all 
I will be back in twenty-four hours.' I slept 
32 



Introduction 

little that night, and spent the next day in 
anxious prayer for his safe return. 

" Twelve o'clock arrived, but no tidings of 
him. At last, about two o'clock, I heard the 
sound of horses riding past the house, and 
saw your grandfather dismount and come in. 
He embraced me and threw his sword and 
pistol on the table, both of which I could see 
had been used. I said to him, 'William, 
where have you been } ' He replied, * Bet, 
never ask me where I have been or what I 
have done, but we don't owe the rebels any- 
thing for Jack.' " 

Captain Johnston and his wife must have 
been in New York about the time of Major 
Andre's capture, for Mrs. Johnston men- 
tions having met him at a ball in New 
York about a fortnight before that event 
took place. 

The Americans, with the assistance of 
France, Spain, and Holland, having obtained 
their independence and the rebellion having 
become a revolution. Captain Johnston went 
to Edinburgh, where he completed his medi- 
cal education, which had been interrupted 
during the war. He then settled in King- 
ston, Jamaica, where he practised medicine 

33 



Introduction 

until his death, which occurred December 9, 
1807. 

Mrs. Johnston had ten children, three of 
whom died in infancy. These were : 

1. Andrew Lichtenstein, bora in Savannah, Georgia, 
March 22, 1781, studied medicine in Edinburgh, and died 
at Kingston, Jamaica, December 2, 1805. 

2. Catharine, born in Charleston, South Carolina, August 
23, 1782, died in Boston, June 2, 1819. 

3. Lewis, born in St. Augustine, Florida, March 10, 
1784, studied medicine at Edinburgh, practised in Jamaica, 
and died in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. 

4. John William, born in Edinburgh, May 20, 1785. 
died in July of the same year. 

5. Elizabeth Wildman, born in Liguana, Jamaica, 
December 15, 1787, died at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, June 
19, 1 81 9. July 27, 1807, she was married to Thomas 
Ritchie, Esq. , barrister, and member of the House of As- 
sembly, afterward first Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, to whom she bore five sons and two daughters. The 
eldest son, John, was Solicitor-General of Nova Scotia, 
Senator of the Dominion of Canada, aud afterward Judge 
in Equity of Nova Scotia, which position he resigned 
shortly before his death in 1891. Her third son, Sir Wil- 
liam Ritchie, practised law in St. John, for which county 
he was elected member, and was at one time Attorney- 
General of the Province of New Brunswick. He was after- 
ward appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, and then 
became Chief Justice of the Province. This position he 
held until he was appointed to the Chief Justiceship of the 
Supreme Court of Canada, and knighted. Of the daugh- 
ters, Laleah, the eldest, married Charles McColla. The 
second daughter, Elizabeth Lichtenstein, married in 1840 

34 



Introduction 

Dr. William Johnston Almon, who was afterward member 
for Halifax and subsequently appointed a Senator of the 
Dominion. Of her three other sons, James and George 
studied for the Bar, and Thomas was a merchant in Cuba. 

6. Laleah Peyton, born in Kingston, Jamaica. Feb- 
ruary 15, 1789, in 1 8 14 was married to the Hon. Wil- 
liam Bruce Almon, M.D. , to whom she bore ten children. 
She had five sons, Hon. William J. Almon, M.D. , Andrew 
B. Almon, barrister, James Almon, merchant, Rev. Fos- 
ter H. Almon, and Lewis J. Almon, barrister. Her five 
daughters were: Laleah, married to Thomas Ritchie; 
Amelia, married to John W. Ritchie ; Eliza, married to 
Rev. James Ritchie ; Ella, and Mary Ann, who both died 
unmarried. 

7. John, born in Liguana, Jamaica, January 31, 1790, 
studied at the High School, Edinburgh, was admitted to 
the Bar, and practised for some time in Jamaica. After- 
ward he came to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where he was 
elected a member of the House of Assembly. He died at 
Falmouth, England, where he had gone for his health. 

8. Jane Farley, born in Liguana, Jamaica, May 29, 
1 791, died June 4, 1793. 

9. James William, born in Liguana, Jamaica, August 
29, 1792, studied at the High School, Edinburgh. After 
he completed his studies at the High School, his mother 
wished to obtain a tutor for him. Lord Brougham was 
then a penniless young barrister in Edinburgh, and would 
have had the position, but Mrs. Johnston, hearing that his 
religious opinions were not orthodox, resolved not to 
engage him. After a time Mr. Johnston came out to 
Nova Scotia and studied law with Thomas Ritchie, of 
Annapolis (afterward Judge) , who had married his sister 
Eliza. He subsequently practised in Halifax, became a 
partner with the Hon. S. B. Robie, and soon became the 
leading barrister of the Nova Scotia bar. He was ap- 

35 



Introduction 

pointed a member of the Legislative Council in 1838. 
In 1S43 he was made Attorney-General of the Province, 
and resigning his position in the Legislative Council, 
ran for Annapolis County for the Legislative Assembly. 
His election was obtained, and he soon became the leader 
of the Conservative Party in Nova Scotia, a distinction 
he held during the remainder of his political life, both 
while his party held the reins of government and when it 
was in opposition. His political opponent during these 
days was the well-known Honorable Joseph Howe, His 
political career terminated by his appointment, in the 
year 1869, ^^ the Bench, as Judge of Equity and Judge 
of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Owing to his 
declining health, in 1872 he went to the south of 
France, and on the death of the Hon. Mr. Howe he was 
appointed Governor of Nova Scotia. He soon started 
for home with somewhat improved health, but when he 
reached England he became so ill that he could proceed no 
further and on the 2d of November, 1873, in the eighty- 
first year of his age, he died at Cheltenham, where he 
was buried. Judge Johnston was married twice; first, 
to Amelia Almon, daughter of Dr. William James Almon, 
by whom he had six children; secondly, to Louise, widow 
of Captain Wentworth, R.A. , by whom he had four chil- 
dren. 

10. Jane Farley, born April 3, 1794, died in July, 1794. 



36 



RECOLLECTIONS 

of a 

GEORGIA LOYALIST 

CHAPTER I 

T WAS born May 28, 1764, in the reign of 
-"- George III., at a place called Little Ogee- 
chee, about ten miles from Savannah, the cap- 
ital of the then Province of Georgia. My 
father, John Lightenstone, was born at Cron- 
stadt in Russia. His father, Gustavus Philip 
Lightenstone, was born in England, but de- 
scended from a family in Germany, who write 
their name *' Lichtenstein." I am uncertain 
whether his mother was English or Irish; 
her maiden name was Beatrice Elizabeth 
(if I mistake not) Lloyd^ and my grandfather 
was a Protestant minister at Cronstadt and 
had an academy for young gentlemen. He 
was a truly pious man, poor in this world's 
goods, but rich in the inheritance of the world 
to come. A letter to me from him, in answer 

37 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

to one I wrote him and my grandmother when 
I was not eight years of age, I delight to re- 
tain as a blessed relic of the good man's pray- 
ers and blessings for his little Betsey/ 

^ This letter is as follows : 

' ' Sweet Tenderly Beloved Granddaughter : 

' ' We embrace thee, we kiss thee, we give a thousand 
thanks, sweet creature, for thy charming, agreeable Letter, 
nothing can be more pleasing, nor make us so glad as thy 
Letter does. 

' ' We see that thou art taking to thy Learning, and 
that thou art a promising dear, and we recommend to thee 
for a pretty companion and a true friend thy blessed Sav- 
iour ; Him who cloaketh thee in apparel of the best purple, 
who loves thee, and all little children, and says. Suffer lit- 
tle children to come unto me, who when himself a little 
Child increased in Wisdom and Stature and in favor with 
God and Man. Do thou the same, and be sure to trace 
every step of his. May his blessings be the living waters 
where he thy Shepherd leads thee. We pray for this, and 
so do also thy Uncles and Aunts. 
" Thy loving Grandfather, 

G. Philip ) 

and loving Grandmother, V 

Beatrice Elizabeth ) 

Lightenstone." 

Mrs. Johnston also preserved the following letter from 
her grandfather to her mother : 

" Peterhoff, June, 1769. 

" My Dearest Sweet Daughter : 

' ' Opportunities of sending a letter are so scarce as to 
force one to delay what one was inclined to do the next 
38 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

I have often thought that in all my back- 
slidings that dear saint's prayers have been 
heard and have been the means of my Al- 
mighty Father's mercy and forbearance with 
me, the vilest of sinners, who have been led 
by His grace and chastening to a knowledge 
of the truth of His Holy Word. My mother 
was Catherine Delegal. Her father, Philip 
Delegal, was of French descent, his ancestors 
having left France on account of being Protes- 
tants. His father was a major and died Com- 

moment, and it was and is still a great grief to me to 
put off the answer to your charming Letter. Joy and 
inexpressible contentment did flow in our hearts at re- 
ceiving it. This was increased as your kind and noble 
expressions opened to us your Christian-like sentiments, full 
of tenderness and affection for us. This obliges us in the 
highest manner, and we shall never fail to send our ardent 
prayers to the heavenly Throne for your everlasting hap- 
piness, and for all prosperity and health for you on this side 
Heaven. May God shed showers of blessings upon little 
Betsey, to make her grow in Wisdom and in favor with 
God and men ; may she be bred up in the fear and love of 
God and her Saviour, who orders that little children shall be 
brought to him. Your continuing, faithful remembrance of, 
and tender affection towards us, will be accepted as a thing 
of the greatest value, and we all with the tenderest embraces 
do give our love to you. 

"lam, dearest daughter, your truly affectionate and 
loving Father, 

" GusTAvus Philip Lightenstone." 

39 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

mandant of the Island of Jersey. His son, my 
grandfather, went out with General Ogil- 
thorpe, a lieutenant in his army, to Georgia 
upon its first settlement, took up large quanti- 
ties of land there, left the army, and became 
one of the first settlers in that Province, 
where he was ultimately a man of large prop- 
erty. He married a Miss Daley from South 
Carolina. He was a man of great informa- 
tion, and extremely fond of reading. 

When I was very young my father removed 
from Ogeechee to a place called Yamacraw, 
in the suburbs of Savannah. My father had 
an appointment under Government, which he 
held until the Revolutionary War obliged 
him to quit it; this was the command of a 
scout boat, with arms, well manned, having 
a large awning, and accommodation for tak- 
ing the Governor or other public officers to 
Charleston or other adjacent places. His 
first duty, however, was to go to the relief of 
remote families who were in danger of attack 
from Indians, from which fact, I suppose, the 
boat took its name. He used also to be sent 
to lay quarantine at the Island of Cockspur, 
fifteen miles below Savannah. There was a 
gentleman residing on this little island with 
40 ^ 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

whom my father was a welcome visitor. While 
on duty there my father himself purchased a 
plantation on the Island of Skidaway, a very 
pleasant place upon the water, abounding in 
fruits of various kinds, figs, peaches, pome- 
granates, quinces, plums, mulberries, nectar- 
ines, and oranges ; though for provisions for 
his family and people, he chiefly cultivated 
indigo and raised Indian corn and sweet pota- 
toes. Fish, also, was easily procured in 
plenty, and of the finest varieties, also oysters, 
crabs, prawn, and shrimps. 

We had a house in Savannah, where I was 
early put to school, and from being an only 
child my intellect was probably developed 
more quickly, I being thrown very much upon 
my own resources. When in the country I 
found in the trees, the river, the animals, 
much to amuse and occupy my leisure hours, 
and my parents conversed with me and stim- 
ulated my taste for reading, by making me 
read good authors to them. Having a good 
memory and uncommon love for reading, I 
found pleasure in books that would perhaps 
in this present age be too dry for a child of 
seven or eight years of age. For instance, 
I once read a book the title of which in after 

41 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

life I had no recollection of, except from its 
mentioning that part of the twentieth chapter 
of St. John where that most touching and in- 
teresting passage was of Mary Magdalene's 
going to the tomb to discover her Lord. Not 
seeing the body she turned with a heavy and 
disappointed heart to make inquiry of her 
blessed Lord Himself, whom she took to be 
the gardener. His '* Mary ! " her answer, and 
no doubt Mary's look, soon made Him known 
to His faithful, sorrowing disciple. Such 
was the effect of this book on my infant 
mind that forty years after, when I had the 
book with some others sent me to read, as 
soon as I looked into it I remembered the 
passage that had struck me and exclaimed 
to my children, "This is the book!" The 
title was " Gilbert West on the Resurrec- 
tion," and I have now the copy, which the 
lady politely requested my acceptance of, she 
having another copy besides. 

My mother, not being in good health, was 
once recommended to pass a summer in Phil- 
adelphia, and to relieve her of all care I was 
to remain with my father. The vessel in 
which the passengers were to embark lay fif- 
teen miles below Savannah, and the evening 
42 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

before she sailed I went down with some ladies 
who were going, expecting to return with my 
father next day when he took my mother down. 
When they arrived I showed so much grief at 
parting from her, that my poor mother was 
much distressed, and my father would have re- 
turned for my clothes. The wind, however, 
being fair, put this out of the question, and he 
consented to my going with only one suit, the 
ladies offering to assist in cutting over some 
of my mother's clothes for me. In this way 
little Betsey, then about seven years of age, 
made her debut on the wide ocean, which it 
has since so often been her lot to traverse. 

On our return from Philadelphia we resided 
between town and country, and when at the 
former I attended school. My mother died 
when I was turned ten years of age, and I 
felt her loss keenly. Shortly after, my father 
at the request of an aunt of my mother's, 
Mrs. Richard, sent me to reside with her in 
Savannah, where I attended the best schools 
in the place. My aunt did me every justice 
in bringing me up, and endeavored to make 
me a notable needlewoman, in which art she 
herself excelled, but my love for reading was 
so much greater than for sewing that I often 

43 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

had a book under my work to look into as op- 
portunity offered. The good old lady not 
being able to make me perfect in sewing, de- 
clared at last that I should never be anything 
but a botcher at it, yet I did not think I 
really deserved the charge. 

In 1774 the Revolutionary War commenced 
at Boston and began to spread to the south- 
ward. In '^6 the people in Georgia were 
inflamed against the Government of Great 
Britain, and were raising a ragged corps of all 
sorts. Some had guns with firelocks and 
some without, and all, gentle and simple, were 
made to declare whether they were on the 
side of the King or for the people whom we 
Loyalists, then termed Tories, called rebels. 
If a Tory refused to join the people, he was 
imprisoned, and tarred and feathered. This 
was a terrible indignity, the poor creature 
being stripped naked, tarred all over, and 
then rolled in feathers. I might once, if I 
would have gone to the window, have seen a 
poor man carried all over the town with the 
mob around him, in such a plight, but the 
idea was too dreadful. He was an inoffensive 
man, a British pilot. 

Our teachers became officers in the rebel 
44 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

army, and everywhere the scum rose to the 
top. All the public officers under Govern- 
ment remained loyal and quit the country, 
their estates being confiscated and afterward 
sold. My father, at the barking of a dog 
while he was shaving and preparing to dress 
that he might escape in his boat, looked up 
and saw an armed party near the house. He 
had just time to go through a door that 
opened into the garden, leap the fence, and 
lay himself down at a little distance in some 
tall grass which concealed him. He could 
hear the soldiers talking loudly to his servants 
and saying that he could not be far off, for 
his clothes and watch were in the room. If 
he was above ground, they said, they would 
surely have him. My father had a sensible, 
plausible black man, who had been brought 
up as a pet in my grandfather's house, and 
who was greatly attached to the family. He 
contrived to amuse the soldiers in different 
ways, while he got down his sails and oars to 
take them to a back landing-place, where the 
boat lay. The leader of the party was a fine 
young man, a Mr. John Milledge, whom my 
father had known from his infancy, and who 
some years afterward was at Augusta with 

45 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

the rank of colonel. He was an amiable man, 
and his turning against my father served to 
show the spirit of the times and the vio- 
lence with which civil wars are entered 
upon. 

After their unsuccessful pursuit, the party 
returned, and my father got to his boat with- 
out delay and arrived at Tybee, where the 
British man-of-war, the ScarboroiigJiy lay. 
Then he embarked, as did my future husband, 
who had also been fortunate enough to effect 
his escape to Tybee, and they sailed for 
Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1776. At that time 
I was twelve years of age, and being with my 
aunt on the mainland, at her plantation, did 
not take leave of my father or know what was 
going on at Skidaway until some time after I 
heard he was gone. Commissioners were ap- 
pointed to confiscate the Loyalists' property 
and dispose of it as being forfeited because of 
their not joining the rebels, and my grand- 
father had a petition drawn up which he made 
me take, accompanied by a lady (sorely against 
my will, for I felt so indignant at their treat- 
ment of my father), to the Board of Commis- 
sioners, which set forth the orphan condi- 
tion I was left in, and petitioned that my 
46 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

father's property might be given to me. This 
request I have every reason to think was ac- 
ceded to, as our property was not sold as was 
that of many other Loyalists. One or two 
cases besides mine show that they did give 
the property to wives and children whose hus- 
bands and fathers had been forced away as 
mine had been. 

My father and Mr. Johnston left Halifax 
for New York, the former there entering the 
Quartermaster- General's department, the lat- 
ter joining a Provincial Corps (the New York 
Volunteers) composed of Loyalists, which was 
actively engaged during the war, never being 
kept in garrison duty. This regiment was 
twice new officered, its first officers, with a 
few exceptions, falling on the field of battle. 
Major Grant, who had taken Mr. Johnston 
under his care and was like a father to him, 
was killed in storming Fort Montgomery, and 
my husband felt his loss severely. At the 
close of 1778, Colonel Campbell, who was 
afterward knighted and made governor of 
Madras, in India, was sent with three thou- 
sand men to take Georgia. The New York 
Volunteers was one of the regiments, and 
Col. C, knowing that my father had resided 

47 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

a great part of his life in that Province, 
took him into his service as an adviser and 
guide where best to effect a landing. The 
town was taken without loss, though the 
Americans as they retreated wantonly fired 
on the 71st Regiment of Highlanders, with- 
out attempting a regular stand. This ex- 
posed the inhabitants to the fury of the Brit- 
ish soldiers, who then felt as though they 
were taking the place by storm. In conse- 
quence, before the officers could have time to 
stop them they committed much outrage, 
ripped open feather beds, destroyed the public 
papers and records, and scattered everything 
about the streets. Numbers of the enemy 
were taken in a swamp a few miles from Savan- 
nah. While Mr. Johnston was with his com- 
pany in the pursuit he saw his father at his 
own door, and had only time to go up to Col- 
onel Maitland and request that he would put 
a guard at his father's house to secure his 
safety from the enraged troops, who knew 
not friend from foe. Colonel Maitland had 
been the early friend and college companion 
of my father-in-law, Dr. Johnston, in Edin- 
burgh, and meeting with his son at New 
York was like a father to him and did all he 
48 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

could to serve him. He, of course, placed a 
guard there. 

My father in a few days sent a passport for 
myself and my aunt to come to town. I was 
then in my fifteenth year, and new to scenes 
of the kind, and having to stop within a mile 
of Savannah that the Hessian officer on duty 
there should examine our pass, I was dread- 
fully frightened. He soon allowed us to go 
on ; and what a sight did the streets present 
of feathers and papers ! 

The meeting with my father I scarce need 
add was joyful. I was there made acquainted 
with my father's bosom friend, Mr. McCul- 
loch. He was a widower, a very handsome 
man for his time of life, and had two daugh- 
ters in England, one of whom is now Mrs. 
Roupell. He was very fond of me, and I 
suppose looked on me as a child, but I felt 
an affection for him for a short time that I 
can hardly define. He was very amiable; if 
I wanted any money he would, if my father 
gave me a guinea, always say, " Give her 
another," or if my foolish young head fan- 
cied, as it did at times, some article of dress, 
he was always ready to second my wish. 
Yet my father idolized me too much to need 

49 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

that any should ask for me. I loved him, 
yet I always from a child had an awe of him. 
My dear, indulgent mother was perhaps too 
yielding to her only child, and but for his 
strictness to me, for which I am now grate- 
ful, she might have spoilt me. She was too 
good a woman to have overlooked faults of 
the heart and mind, yet this I am sensible of, 
that I could take advantage of her, when a 
word from my father was enough. On one 
occasion when the cat ate my bird I was so 
angry that I went to beat her. My mother 
tried to prevent me, and finding me obstinate 
and persistent, was going to correct me as I 
deserved, but I ran away and got up into a 
big tree out of reach, and perhaps she had no 
great wish to use violence in getting- me 
down. In a short time I saw my father com- 
ing along the road, when I was soon out of 
the tree and seated in the parlor. 

We may see in almost every event that 
befalls us the hand of our merciful Heavenly 
Father directing the various events of our 
lives for our good. Perhaps had my beloved 
and tender mother lived she might not have 
kept as strict a hand over me as my volatile 
nature required. My aunt was kind, but was 
50 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

at the same time decided in her conduct toward 
me, and I was made industrious at my needle. 
Other parts of education I required no stim- 
ulus in, as I liked them better ; indeed I was 
always ambitious to be at the head of my 
class at school. 



51 



CHAPTER II 

A FTER Savannah was taken I remained 
-^^ with my aunt the greater part of the 
time, but at last my father was requested 
by Mrs. Johnston to bring me to town 
to pass a few weeks with her daughter. 
This he did, and I appeared, a young un- 
sophisticated girl, quite new to the world, 
its customs and usages. On my arrival 
Mrs. Johnston's son came hastily into the 
room, which he had left a little before to 
seek for his watch. When he entered he 
merely glanced round the room and retreated. 
I, a little rustic, in my simple dress, which 
my fond aunt and I had made at her place 
called "Mount Piety" (a name she took from 
the " Pilgrim's Progress " when she purchased 
her plantation), must have looked strange to 
the gay Captain Johnston, who had lately 
been among the dashing fashionables of New 
York, then remarkable (during Sir H. Clin- 
ton's rule) for its elegance and dissipation. 
No wonder, I sometimes think, that I should 
52 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

at once have caught his eye. At the steps he 
met my father coming in, and asked him what 
girl that was in the parlor. My father said, 
" Your sister, and Miss Stewart, our former 
teacher." "No," was the reply, "there 
was another." My father said, " No one 
but my Betsey," and my husband has often 
spoken since of the meeting, and said that 
the thought at once came to him that I would 
be his Betsey, although an hour before had 
any one talked to him of marrying he would 
have assured him it was a thing out of the 
question. He had resisted all the beauty and 
fashion he had left, and found something in a 
simple child of nature to make him not many 
weeks after change his sentiments. Such 
was the romance of the olden times ! 

I remained with Mrs. Johnston some 
weeks, and it was some time before I could 
get over my bashful timidity. Every day 
there were several officers dining at Dr. 
Johnston's ; having two sons in the army and 
being loyal he thought they could not show 
too much attention to those who had rescued 
us from rebel power. I was glad to get into 
the drawing-room before they arrived; and 
to take wine at dinner with one of these gay 

53 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

soldiers called a deep blush into my cheeks, 
it was all so unlike the ways at Mount Piety. 
My father perceived rather more attention 
to me than he wished from Captain Johnston, 
for being intimately acquainted with him and 
knowing his sentiments on that head, he did 
not suspect him of any thoughts of marriage. 
Accordingly, unwilling that I should be tri- 
fled with, he told me one evening, on my re- 
turning from a drive to see a lady, that I 
must be prepared to go back in the morning to 
my aunt's. This was rather a damper to my 
youthful heart, and no less so to the compan- 
ion of my drive, and he contrived to find op- 
portunity that evening to say what has been 
said so often to other silly girls, I suppose. 
By silence only I told him what I felt, then 
I got upstairs into my own room in the dark, 
and wept most abundantly, not at the thought 
of parting from him, but to think I should 
have listened to such a thing without my 
father's knowledge. I was obliged to dry 
my tears and go down to supper, but I went 
with a heavy heart. Next morning I left 
Savannah and did not enjoy my home as 
formerly. 

A few days after, a circumstance occurred 

54 




William Martin Johnston, M.D. 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

that might have had serious consequences to 
the honour of my husband, had not my aunt's 
stiff notions of female decorum prevented. 
He had ridden out a few miles to visit a lady 
with whom we were acquainted, and had pre- 
vailed on her to drive to my aunt's plantation 
and request her to allow me to accompany 
her back to remain a day or two. My aunt 
was inexorable and declined my going, and 
after their departure she very properly pointed 
out her reasons for refusing, saying that it 
would look as if I wished to go because of 
Captain Johnston's being there. In her opin- 
ion such a thing would not be delicate. 
Whether she convinced me then I will not 
say, but this I now know, she was right and 
had proper ideas of female reserve. Captain 
Johnston being disappointed of my company 
rose early the next morning and left his kind 
friends sooner than he would have done had 
I been there, and returned to Savannah. But 
what was his mortification and dismay when 
he got there, to find that by a sudden order 
his regiment with some other troops had em- 
barked at daylight for Carolina on an expedi- 
tion. He never stopped at his father's, but 
rode down to a wharf to try to get a boat to 

55 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

follow and if possible join them before their 
landing. A ship's boat was there with two 
seamen who were to return without delay to 
their captain, but the earnestness with which 
he and our friend Mr. McCulloch urged 
them, and the Captain's offer of the only two 
guineas he had about him, and his watch, 
softened Jack's heart. One said to the other, 
" We won't take the gentleman's watch, only 
the money," and went at all risks with him. 
He felt his honour at stake from being ab- 
sent at the time, and especially as he knew his 
major was not on good terms with him and 
would gladly avail himself of such an opportu- 
nity to put him under arrest, a disgrace which 
his proud spirit could not have borne. Fortu- 
nately, he caught up with his regiment before 
they landed and went to Colonel Maitland 
and told his case, fearing greatly that the 
major would put him under arrest. Colonel 
Maitland did away with his apprehensions by 
giving him the forlorn hope, a post of danger 
and honour, and he was the first man to land. 
Had I gone to Mrs. Houston's he would have 
remained longer, and what misery it would 
have given him ! He was away three months 
in the interior of South Carolina, and the 
56 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

troops returned to us, as was too much the 
case in that ill-fated war, without doing any- 
thing. Colonel Prevost, I think, commanded ; 
a different man from his brother, the General, 
In September, 1779, the French fleet, 
under the command of Count D'Estaing ar- 
rived at Tybee, and shortly after landed some 
miles from Savannah at a place called Buhlah. 
There they spent some time in gradual ap- 
proaches and in throwing up battlements be- 
fore the town, forming a regular siege, which 
gave Colonel Moncrief, our brave engineer, 
time also to throw up works. Though the 
lines were very extensive, and the British 
force very small, not above 1,800 men (Col- 
onel Maitlandwas in Carolina with 500 men), 
such was Moncrief's ardor, skill, and indus- 
try that he made the town able to stand a 
siege of six weeks. The French and Ameri- 
cans were 10,000 strong, and they were open- 
ing their batteries, and constantly cannona- 
ding and throwing bomb shells. Fortunately, 
however, our men were encamped near the 
trenches, and these deadly shells went a dis- 
tance over their heads. The streets being 
sandy and not paved, the shells fell and made 
great holes in the sand, which often put out 

57 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

the fuse and prevented explosion. Indeed, 
the colored children got so used to the shells 
that they would run and cover them with sand, 
and as we were rather scarce of ammunition 
they would often pick up the spent balls and 
get for them seven-pence apiece. 

Soon almost every family was removed 
from the town to an island opposite, where 
they made use of barns, and taking their bed- 
ding and some furniture divided it by por- 
tions. In the barn where I was there were 
fifty-eight women and children, all intimate 
friends, and who had each one or more near 
relatives in the lines. My mother-in-law had 
two sons, I had my father and one very dear 
to me, my future husband. Only one male 
friend was with us. Dr. Johnston, too old to 
fight, though his whole heart was in the cause. 
Every other house and barn besides the one 
we occupied was full of females. The Gen- 
eral sent a flag to Count D'Estaing to request 
that he would allow Mrs. Prevost and her chil- 
dren to go on board one of our ships to be in a 
safe place. The request was refused, and she 
remained in a cellar in Savannah, which was 
made bomb proof with feather beds. Fortu- 
nately, though their hope was by the inces- 

58 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sant fire to burn the town and force a sur- 
render, a merciful God protected us and 
defeated their intention. Only one house 
took fire, and that was opposite the one Mrs. 
Prevost and her children were in; I cannot 
now remember whether the flames were sub- 
dued or the house consumed. Wet blankets 
and other means were taken to guard the op- 
posite house from taking fire; the streets 
were broad. 

Our men, having few to relieve them, suf- 
fered from fatigue and want of rest, but in 
the height of our despondence Colonel Mait- 
land effected a junction in a wonderful man- 
ner, crossed from the Carolina side, and with 
his 500 soldiers entered Savannah, thus giv- 
ing new life and joy to the worn-out troops. 
Previous to the commencement of the siege, 
Dr. Johnston with all the females of his 
family went to the island. Mrs. Johnston, 
however, remained longer. She had two sons 
then in the lines, one a captain in the New 
York Volunteers the other a captain in 
Brown's Rangers, who were stationed at dif- 
ferent parts of the lines. She had also two 
younger sons, one in his fifteenth the other 
in his tenth year, whom their brothers had 

59 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

wished to be allowed to take with them. 
This Mrs. Johnston would not hear of. She 
had two sons in posts of danger, and she 
could not bear to risk more. I chose to re- 
main with her, for an obvious reason, I had 
thus an opportunity of often seeing her son 
William when he visited her. 

One day he came in haste to say we must 
move from the town as quickly as possible, 
for the enemy were about to open their bat- 
teries on it. This we did immediately, but 
before we had got far they commenced a 
heavy cannonade, which was kept up for two 
hours. The shot was whistling about our 
ears and I was sadly frightened, ducking my 
head as if that could save me. My heroic 
mother-in-law stopped suddenly and addressed 
her boys : *' My sons, I was about to disgrace 
you; go join your brothers." Alex went to 
William, and John to Andrew, the older 
brothers being scarcely able to believe that 
their mother had sent them. Soon we got 
safely to the wharf, and then over to the 
island, the name of which was Hutchinson 
Island. It was all cultivated and settled; 
rice was the grain raised, and as the crop 
had to be for a certain time, during the proc- 
60 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ess of culture, kept under water, the town 
was most unhealthy, every one in autumn 
suffering from that dreadful disease fever 
and ague. Of late years, I am told, they 
have drained the island, given up the culture 
of rice, and planted cotton, corn, etc., instead, 
a change which has greatly improved the 
health of the people. 

After a siege of some weeks the concen- 
trated forces of French and Americans, lo,- 
ooo men against our handful, fearful of a 
British fleet coming and blocking up or tak- 
ing their ships, and dreading the risk of 
storms at that season, made, on the 9th of 
October, 1779, a grand attack with small 
arms on our works at the dawn of day. 
Alas, every heart in our barn was aching, 
every eye in tears! When they sent their 
flag to offer terms, though our General was 
told that no quarter would be given if he re- 
fused, that they would take the garrison by 
storm, and that he would have the lives of 
his men to answer for, he refused to capitu- 
late. Captain William Johnston met the 
officer, the Count de Noailles, and conducted 
him to headquarters, and was present when 
he gave the above message in an elegant 

61 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

style, contrasting strongly with our plain, 
blunt Swiss or German. The answer the 
Count received was laconic, " The King, my 
Master, pays these men to fight, and they 
must fight, and we decline your terms." 
Therefore, we had reason to be afflicted, not 
daring to anticipate a victory with such fear- 
ful odds. The Almighty and Gracious God 
did, however, assist us, and we conquered, 
though no men could have behaved more gal- 
lantly than the French. One poor fellow 
planted his colors three times on one of our 
redoubts, but the third time he fell. 

Our anxiety to hear about our friends may 
well be imagined, but we soon had great rea- 
son for gratitude and praise. None of our 
relatives and friends were killed or wounded, 
though all were much fatigued from many 
weeks* want of rest, and from that day's 
action. We had stock of all descriptions, and 
many a harmless animal and turkey was killed 
and prepared, to send over to our friends. 
The Polish rebel. Count Pulaski, who joined 
the Americans, was killed that morning. 
One battery was manned with seamen, who 
behaved most gallantly. Had the enemy not 
apprehended danger to their fleet by remain- 
62 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ing, in all probability they would have re- 
newed their attack, and it was not thought 
possible we could have had strength to defeat 
them again. 

When we got into the town it offered a des- 
olate view. The streets were cut into deep 
holes by the shells, and the houses were rid- 
dled with the rain of cannon balls. Winter 
was now approaching and many houses were 
not habitable, so Dr. Johnston with his fam- 
ily took a house out of town until his was 
repaired. 



63 



CHAPTER III 

T WAS married in Savannah, November 21, 
•^ 1779, then fifteen and a half years old; 
my husband, William Martin Johnston, being 
twenty-five and a half. Some months after, 
he was attacked with a nervous complaint, 
brought on by great fatigue in the special 
service of taking information orally to some 
of our troops in garrison at Augusta, a hun- 
dred and thirty miles from Savannah. He 
rode night and day through an enemy's coun- 
try, accomplished his mission, and returned 
immediately, never but once alighting from 
his horse. Though then young, strong, and 
active, his constitution long suffered from 
the effects of the journey. He went for a 
few weeks to St. Augustine, East Florida, 
to try the change, but not getting well, he 
was recommended to New York, and it was 
thought advisable that I should remain in 
Savannah. 

When the day came for him to go, the ship 
lay at Tybee, where he and his sister, Mrs. 
64 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Farley, with her husband and child, were to 
embark. Mr. Farley was then in a deep de- 
cline. The next morning I was sitting very 
disconsolate in my own room, in tears, no 
doubt thinking that our separation was for 
me the climax of misery, for we were both 
strongly tinctured with the romance of the 
old school, when who should enter but my hus- 
band. The wind not being favorable, he had 
risked its changing and his losing his pas- 
sage, to come up for me. One half-hour was 
all I had in which to pack up, and notwith- 
standing I had to get my husband's linen 
ready (part of my own was lying wet) and 
arrange other matters, we were off before Mr. 
Johnston's good father returned from sitting 
in the Council, of which he was then Presi- 
dent. My father-in-law was as angry, I fancy, 
as his mild nature would admit, at his son's 
romantic folly. 

It was the month of June, 1780, and we 
had a fine ship. At Charleston we put our- 
selves under the convoy of Sir Henry Clin- 
ton's fleet and army, Sir Henry being about 
to return, after the reduction of Charleston, 
to New York. The voyage from thence to 
New York took us only eight days. We had 

65 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

pleasant weather, bands of music were play- 
ing on board the different ships, and the 
whole trip was very delightful. 

At New York we landed, and we spent the 
hot months on Long Island. In October we 
left with a fleet and force under command of 
General Leslie, who was going up the Ches- 
apeake. We took our passage in a private 
vessel, as the captain assured us there were 
a number of private armed vessels going on 
to Charleston that would protect us, and that 
he would not go in with the fleet. All this, 
we found afterward, was untrue ; the captain 
took us up the Chesapeake, and we lay five 
weeks near Portsmouth, opposite Norfolk, 
which then had only the walls of the houses 
standing, having been burnt by the Gover- 
nor, Lord Dunmore, on his being obliged to 
quit. Mr. and Mrs. Farley remained on 
board the same vessel to go on, but we were 
to remain through the winter, I having the 
prospect of becoming a mother in March. 
In the same extraordinary manner as our 
public affairs were ever conducted, however, 
just as the poor people came forward to show 
their loyalty, in the hope that the British 
troops would remain permanently there, sud- 

66 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

denly in the month of November the Gen- 
eral's aid-de-camp, Major Skelly, came to tell 
Mr. Johnston that the troops would embark 
next morning. This took us unprepared in 
every way. The major said he would get us 
a good passage in a transport, and as there 
was little time to get provisions, he kindly 
said he would send us a good supply of dead 
and some live poultry and stock. Our poor 
landlady, a Mrs. Elliot, sat with her head back 
and her mouth extended, scarce in her senses 
from the shock, till at last she found speech 
to articulate : " Well, this is the third time 
we have been so served by the British. We 
have shown our loyalty, and they have left us 
to the rage and persecution of the Americans 
for doing them service." 

Our passage was rough and tedious. The 
vessel Mrs. Farley was in separated from the 
fleet, and within a day's sail of Charleston 
was captured by a privateer, who took all 
the provisions, and indeed everything its 
crew could see, even to the compass. I sup- 
pose they thought the vessel too insignifi- 
cant to man, so they allowed her in that 
state to proceed. Fortunately, she arrived 
the next day, and Mr. Farley died a day or 

67 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

two after the party landed. We arrived a 
week later, and he was then buried. Had 
they remained with the fleet the poor wife 
would have been doubly distressed from her 
husband's dying at sea. Fortunately, she 
had also the consolation of finding her second 
brother Lewis there, who attended to every- 
thing. Here my husband and I had to part, 
as he was obliged to join his regiment, and I 
returned to Savannah. My brother Lewis, 
with Mrs. Farley and family and myself, went 
in a large boat with an awning, under which 
there was good accommodation for sleeping. 
The voyage to Savannah was inland, and every 
night we stopped in some river or creek, pro- 
ceeding at daylight. We were sadly annoyed 
by mosquitoes in these places. At last we got 
in safety to Savannah, where my sister had an 
affecting meeting with her father and family. 
There she was told of the death of her brother. 
Captain Andrew Johnston. He had fallen at 
Augusta after gallantly succeeding in a sortie 
the troops were forced to make to procure 
provisions they much needed, and which he 
had bravely offered to undertake. In return- 
ing he had received a shot in his back, which 
was fatal. His good father was sitting v;ith 
68 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

the Governor in Council, when a countryman 
came down, told of a skirmish our people had 
had with the rebels, and was asked if any 
were killed. The reply, " None but Captain 
Johnston," was a shock too great for the 
father's tender feelings, and he of course im- 
mediately returned home. 

I remained for some time in much anxiety 
for my husband's safety, as his regiment was 
in active service. Before my confinement he 
obtained leave, his regiment being then in 
quarters, to come for a short time to Savannah. 
My son, who was named Andrew after his 
brave uncle, was born March 22, 1781. His 
father returned to Charleston soon after, and 
a few months later, from the enemy's troops 
coming near the town and rendering it unsafe 
to go many miles from it, the Governor, Sir 
James Wright, with the advice of his Council, 
thought it expedient to raise some three 
troops of horse at the expense of the Prov- 
ince. Upon his father's application my 
husband was appointed to one of these and 
to command the whole. Of the three, my 
father had one and Captain Campbell Wylly 
another. Mr. Johnston would not accept 
the command unless he got leave to keep his 

69 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

rank and situation and pay in his regiment, 
which he obtained. As captain of a troop 
of horse he had fifteen shillings per day with 
passage money, and how happy did I think I 
should be when I had him so near me. But 
like all human enjoyments, mine was not full 
and satisfactory. My husband was now more 
exposed to danger than before; upon any 
alarm the dragoons were sent out and the 
gates locked, and every third night he in turn 
was out on horseback with his party, the 
gates being locked and chevaiix de frise put 
up to them, and remained on the lookout 
until three or four in the morning. I have 
often of a very cold winter's night known his 
hair quite stiff with icicles. The troops were 
afterward sent to Great Ogeechee, about 
thirty or forty miles from Savannah. 

Reports daily came in that the enemy 
meant to surprise them, and the Commander- 
in-Chief, General Clarke (afterward Sir Alured 
Clarke), sent messages every day to that effect 
so that the men were worn out for want of 
rest. At last they began to think they had 
no intention of attacking them, and one day 
when they were off their guard and most of 
the men were in the yard, there suddenly ap- 
70 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

peared at the edge of the wood about 300 of 
the enemy drawn up. Our men then got in 
as fast as possible and made what prepara- 
tion time would allow. As many as had 
arms were placed on a boarded piazza, ready 
when the order was given to fire. Their 
captain making them reserve their first fire, 
the enemy fired, happily, however, without 
effect. Then Captain Johnston ordered his 
men to fire, which they did, and with such 
effect as to bring down three officers and some 
men, I believe. After a while the enemy 
drew off, and an express was sent on a fleet 
horse to let Colonel Campbell know the cap- 
tain's perilous state and request his coming to 
his assistance. The man, deceiving the rebels 
by making a feint as if he were a deserter, went 
slowly, but as soon as he came near them 
clapped spurs to his horse and soon got out 
of their reach. Colonel Campbell did not 
come as quickly as he ought, or he might have 
saved the lives of many of our gallant little 
troop. He did come many hours after, how- 
ever, and got the troop under arms and went 
out to meet the foe. He left our men in the 
most dangerous position, and being bad horse- 
men they suffered greatly. My husband, 

71 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

however, escaped unhurt, and the enemy 
retired. 

When the news came to Savannah, though 
I knew he was safe, the thought of the 
danger he had been in overpowered my mind, 
and I sought relief on my knees by offer- 
ing prayers and thanksgivings with lively 
gratitude to my Heavenly Father for His 
great mercy in sparing the husband and the 
father. Not many months after, Georgia was 
given up, and in July, 1782, Savannah was 
evacuated and the troops went to Charleston. 
Some of Mr. Johnston's early friends whom 
he knew at Philadelphia, one a Major Fish- 
baune in the American army, who had an 
interview with him during a cessation of 
arms, requested him to leave me, and said I 
should have every kindness and protection 
and be secure in our house until I was fitter 
for moving. I knew my husband would not 
like the separation, and I positively refused 
to remain, but I have no doubt that had I 
stayed my father's property would have been 
given up to me through the interest of those 
friends. 



72 



CHAPTER IV 

T X ^E went to Charleston early in July, and 
^^ the 23d of August, 1782, my second 
child, a daughter called Catherine after my 
mother, was born. I first became acquainted 
there with the Roupell family. The present 
Mr. G. Roupell's father was then Postmaster- 
General, and lived very handsomely. I resided 
with my father's old friend Mr. McCulloch 
and his good wife (who was a Miss Roupell) 
about three weeks. We were very hand- 
somely billeted in a fine house belonging to 
one of the rebel gentlemen who had left 
town. In December the war was drawing to 
a close, Charleston was evacuated, and my 
husband was obliged to go with his regiment 
to New York. His father and family had 
gone from Georgia to St. Augustine, and Mr. 
Johnston thought it better for me to go there 
to his father until his regiment was dis- 
banded and he could come to me. With my 
two little ones I embarked with a nurse on 
board a small schooner for St. Augustine. 

73 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

We arrived there safely with many more Loy- 
alists, though we saw many vessels lying 
stranded along the shore that had been 
wrecked on the sand bar. Fortunately, how- 
ever, no lives were lost, though much of the 
poor Loyalists' property was destroyed. We 
got over with only once thumping on the 
bar. 

The town of St. Augustine lies low ; it is 
pleasantly situated upon the sea, the air is 
very salubrious, and it has long been the resort 
of invalids in search of health. The citadel 
is a fine, strong one, and affords a delightful 
promenade upon the ramparts, which are wide 
and elevated. The chief inhabitants at the 
time I was there were Greeks from Smyrna 
and Minorca, brought there by a Dr. Turn- 
bull to cultivate his lands at the Metanges, 
some miles from St. Augustine. He mar- 
ried a lady of Smyrna, who always retained 
the costume of her country, a majestic, noble- 
looking woman. These people, not agreeing 
with Dr. Turnbull, settled about the town 
and were the only persons who cultivated 
gardens or reared poultry. Fish, which was 
in great abundance, was our chief dependence 
and our ration, but I never was in better 

74 



■' F 



Lewis Johnston, Jr., M.D. 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

health and indeed never was so fleshy as 
during my sixteen months' residence there. 
My husband paid us a visit in 1783, but as 
the war was then closing and the peace of 
1783 was about taking place, he could not be 
long from his regiment. His father, judging 
that with a growing family his half-pay 
would not go far, advised him to go to Edin- 
burgh and prosecute his medical studies, 
which he had early commenced at Philadel- 
phia under his father's friend Dr. Rush, and 
which had been interrupted by the breaking 
out of the rebellion. 

In the spring of 1784 we had notice that 
Florida was ceded to the Spaniards and that 
St. Augustine would soon be evacuated. My 
third child Lewis was born, March 10, 1784, 
and the end of May, my father-in-law, having 
a transport appointed for his sole use, to go 
wherever he wished in the British Dominions, 
chose his native land, and we embarked on 
the 25 th of May for Greenock. My husband 
had gone before in the Diomede frigate, with 
some invalids under his command, for Ports- 
mouth, England, intending soon after to pro- 
ceed to Edinburgh. We had not a long but 
we had a dangerous passage ; the vessel was 

75 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

worm-eaten from lying long in the river, the 
tar and turpentine, that Dr. Johnston's slaves 
had made on a plantation he had, leaked out 
in the storms we encountered and choked 
the pumps, and at one time we had four feet 
of water in the hold. From having little 
other ballast than the tar and turpentine we 
were in danger of upsetting, and accordingly 
we put into the Cove of Cork for ballast and 
to repair the cable, and remained a week in 
that beautiful harbor. 

When we arrived at Greenock we found 
the principal inn very full, and I with Rachel, 
a younger sister of Mr. Johnston, and my 
nurse and three children, were put into the 
attic story. As we had never before been in 
a place of such bustle and stir, we were 
rather alarmed and could not sleep. To add 
to our fears suddenly about midnight a 
female servant with a candle abruptly opened 
the door and asked if Captain Johnston's lady 
was there. " Why, what do you want ? I am 
Mrs. Johnston," I answered, hardly knowing 
what I said. With perfect composure she 
replied, " Then you can make room for the 
Captain." And, sure enough, it was my hus- 
band, who had unexpectedly arrived. He 
76 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

knew we were to sail for Scotland, and he 
was going to Edinburgh to await our arrival. 
Dr. Johnston had written to a gentleman in 
Edinburgh, mentioning our arrival, and Mr 
Johnston, who had letters of introduction to 
the same person, happened to be with him 
when the doctor's letter was received. My 
husband then immediately took a post-chaise 
and drove rapidly to Greenock, a distance of 
seventy miles, but not setting out early from 
Edinburgh, did not reach Greenock until 
twelve at night. ^Stopping at the inn where 
we were, he was told he could not be accommo- 
dated for it was very full and they had not a 
single bed. He was turning away to find 
another inn, when the woman happened to 
say there was a very large family from 
America there. It struck him, as he often 
humorously said in relating the adventure, 
that he might get Jialf 2i bed. The woman 
found out where I was, and he was close be- 
hind her when she spoke to me. We were 
all crowded into a miserable little room, 
and the children were not very quiet after 
their voyage, so that only the pleasure of 
meeting his family could counterbalance Mr. 
Johnston's want of comfort. Next day he 

77 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

took me and our little family on, his father 
with his family remaining a few days at 
Greenock to recruit. 

We stopped at Glasgow part of a day, and 
next morning set out for Edinburgh, where 
we settled at Rosebank, a sweet place my 
husband had taken for his father, about a 
mile from the city to the south. It was well 
entitled to the name it bore, as roses clam- 
bered all over the front of the house and 
completely covered it. They were then in 
bloom, and there were also two pretty flower 
gardens, one on each side of the house. The 
place answered very delightfully during the 
summer and autumn, but when the roads got 
heavy and miry, and winter was commenc- 
ing, we found it would not do to walk so 
great a distance. The Episcopal Chapel was 
in the old town, and Dr. Johnston, a poor 
Loyalist who had lost so much by the war, 
could not afford a carriage. He therefore 
let Rosebank, and took until May a house in 
George's Square. When that time expired 
we removed to the new town, in James Street, 
the road that looks down upon Leith Walk, 
then quite a fashionable place. 

As I expected to be confined in May, when 
78 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

the family would be removing, I took a lodg- 
ing in Bristol Street for a month, and May 
20, 1785, gave birth to a fine boy, whom we 
called John William. Mrs. Farley stayed with 
me until I could remove. My husband at- 
tended college all the winter, and in the spring 
went to London to attend the hospitals there 
and to form some plan as to where he should 
finally practice. He had handsome offers 
made him by Sir Archibald Campbell, who 
was the Colonel Campbell who commanded 
in Georgia, and for whom, when he was 
an officer under him, he volunteered that 
journey on horseback which I have already 
mentioned, which for a time so greatly injured 
his health. Colonel Campbell was going to 
India as Governor of Madras, and would have 
taken my husband and probably put him in 
the way of making his fortune. About 
that time, however, Sir Alured Clarke was 
made Governor of Jamaica, and thither that 
and other circumstances led him to fix on 
going. 

When my babe was three months old it 
pleased our Heavenly Father to take him from 
a world of sin and sorrow. He had the 
thrush, or spine, as the Scots term it, most 

79 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

virulently. Dr. Wardrope was our surgeon, 
Dr. Johnston attended, and they called in 
Dr. Gregory, but all without avail. Mr. 
Johnston went that autumn to Kingston, and 
I left Edinburgh in October, 1786. I had 
met with much kindness and affection in that 
city, and one friend especially I felt grieved 
to part from. In our youthful days, I only 
twenty and Mrs. Davidson a little more, we 
met as strangers at a dinner party, and took 
a great fancy to each other's faces. She 
called on us next day, and from that time to 
her death we were as attached as the fondest 
of sisters ever were. During my two years 
in Edinburgh we were much together. 

I left my own father, who accompanied me 
to Greenock, as did Mrs. Farley, dear, good 
woman, and took my Kitty and Lewis, both 
then very young. Dr. Johnston keeping An- 
drew to be with him and to be educated in 
Edinburgh. I arrived in Kingston, Decem- 
ber 15, 1786, and found my husband well, 
though he had been ill with the common 
fevers of the place. December 15, 1787, my 
beloved Eliza was born, and February 15, 
1789, my dear Laleah Peyton was added to 
my family. The 31st of January, 1790, my 
80 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

son John was born. Jane Farley, a sweet 
blossom, was born in 1791, and died June 4, 
1793, of malignant sore throat and scarlet 
fever. My son James William was born 
August 29, 1792. 



81 



CHAPTER V 

QOON after, the yellow fever was brought 
^ to Jamaica from Philadelphia and made 
great havoc among all new-comers and sailors. 
Strange to tell, however, it never attacked 
those who had resided there for any length 
of time, nor of course the natives, but all 
strangers and the poor seamen were carried 
off in great numbers. Sometimes there were 
seventeen or more funerals a day. My hus- 
band, having an extensive practice, had a 
great deal to do with the sickness, for in 
Kingston whatever merchants the doctors at- 
tend they have the attendance of all on the 
ships consigned to them. The disease quite 
baffled human skill ; still some medical men 
were more successful than others. Soon a 
war of words and angry disputations broke 
out in the newspapers between two of our 
proud physicians, Drs. Grant and Hanis. 
The former held bleeding as the best treat- 
ment, the latter calomel, and Hanis got a list 
of all the cases of the different practitioners 
82 




Hon. Judge James William Johnston 
In 1873 Governor-elect of Nova Scotia 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

with an account of the treatment they had 
received. Few doctors were for the lancet; 
my husband's treatment was to a great ex- 
tent calomel, and his recoveries were more 
than could have been looked for. Happily, 
neither Dr. Johnston nor myself nor any of 
my family took the disease. 

I should have mentioned that on my hus- 
band's arrival, previous to my going out, he 
was most kindly received by Sir Alured 
Clarke, and was told that if he thought of 
settling in Spanish Town he should be 
happy to have him an inmate at the King's 
House until his family came out. The Gov- 
ernor attached him nominally to some regi- 
ment, merely to give him a commission to 
receive island pay, 20s. per week for himself, 
io.f. for me, and 5^. for each of the children, 
which he retained as long as he chose. If 
one regiment left he got appointed to another, 
and I never knew him called on but once 
(when the surgeon was absent) to attend a 
punishment in Kingston Barracks. The 
Governor also introduced him to two gentle- 
men in particular, who were ever his warm 
friends. One was Dr. Weir, Physician-Gen- 
eral to the forces, a man of high character, 

83 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

and the other, Mr. James Wildman, a man 
of large fortune and one of the Council, who, 
besides his income as attorney to all the es- 
tates of Mr. Beckford of Fonthill, England, 
made ii" 10,000 a year. Mr. Wildman made 
Mr. Johnston an offer of the attendance of 
his estates near Kingston, in St. Andrew's 
parish, Li guana. As there were several es- 
tablished medical men in Spanish Town, my 
husband accepted Mr. Wildman's offer and 
settled in Liguana near Halfwaytree. 

When I arrived I was shown great kind- 
ness by Mr. and Mrs. Wildman, and at 
their request they became sponsors to my 
beloved Eliza Wildman, as they wished the 
child to bear their name. In 1794, April 
3d, my last child was born. Her father's 
partiality to his sister Mrs. Farley led him 
to call her Jane Farley. When three months 
old she was inoculated for the smallpox, as 
her father being so much where it was, 
though she was young thought this the only 
chance to prevent her taking it. What she 
had proved the confluent, and after lying on 
my lap for some time on a pillow, a very sad 
spectacle, one sore being quite black, she 
died in my arms, She, as well as the other 
84 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Jane, was a beautiful child, with angelic blue 
eyes and a countenance which showed that 
she was not meant to sojourn upon this earth. 
After her death I was much exhausted in 
mind and body, having no female relation to 
be with me, only black servants, and having 
to think about and direct everything for so 
many little ones. As soon as her father took 
the dear angel out of my lap I got into an- 
other room, and there on my knees poured 
out my supplications for aid and support, that 
I might bear the stroke with a resigned will. 
Yet I had not the same light of truth that I 
have received since my bodily blindness, 
though still I am fain to hope divine grace 
led me then to the footstool of mercy, where 
I have been accustomed to seek aid through 
all my life. Yet, oh, what a backslider I 
have been ! How often and how much have 
1 failed in my duty ! 

When I went to Jamaica I felt greatly the 
want of religious example, and I found that 
even the preaching was cold morality. Morals 
there were at the lowest ebb, cards were 
played on Sunday, and dinner parties were 
given on that sacred day. It is very different 
now, and much of the improved state of re- 

85 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ligion and morality is owing to the Scotch 
churches and the preaching of the Dissenters, 
which has been the means of awaking many 
a poor soul, and has led the blacks to more 
moral habits of life. Perhaps, with the bless- 
ing of God these dreadful examples led me to 
greater strictness than I might have used in 
a country less decided. I used to be diligent 
in teaching my children and reading to them 
every morning from the old " Whole Duty of 
Man " and conducting family prayers while 
they knelt around me. I taught all to read 
and the girls to sew. They were not at a 
school until I went for my health, after ten 
years' residence there, again to Edinburgh. 
My time was greatly devoted to my family, 
and though but twenty-two when I went to 
Jamaica I was at only one Assembly and two 
private dances during my life there. Very 
soon I got my husband to promise not to 
have company on Sunday, which he did read- 
ily, as he highly respected my religious prin- 
ciples and had the utmost confidence in my 
mode of bringing up my children, nor did he 
ever interfere with my discipline. I taught 
the children to love the truth, and to obey, 
and I can with pleasure say that their hearts 
86 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

were mine, and that they did not find my 
commands grievous. When the father's busi- 
ness leads him much away, if a mother does 
not act with firmness and judgment, but waits 
until her husband comes home to complain, 
what will be the consequences to the poor 
children ! It was his comfort to come home 
and have his little flock of well-ordered chil- 
dren running about his knees. When we 
were in town, the nice trays of cakes and 
buns, covered with clean cloths, used to be 
carried about the streets every afternoon, for 
sale. Although this would be shortly after 
our children's hearty dinner, they would get 
round their father and beg him to buy them 
some cakes. This he often did, and seldom 
less than half a dollar's worth would go 
round. I thought it a needless expense after 
they had dined, and remonstrated without 
much effect, but I sat down and calculated 
what the amount would be in a year for that 
not only unnecessary but hurtful luxury, 
leading the children to be gluttons and epi- 
cures, and one day, when they were about to 
call a cake woman, I said to Mr. Johnston, 
" Do you know what that amounts to in a 
year.? " " No, Bess," was his reply. " Only 

87 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

£26,'' I replied, which sum he never con- 
templated. He laughed and told the chil- 
dren that mother said cake cost too much 
money. I mention this to show the defer- 
ence my husband paid to my opinions. These 
are by-gone days. Many bitter sorrows have 
I experienced in later years, but all for my 
good, I trust, as well as in punishment for 
my sins. 



88 



CHAPTER VI 

\ X 7HEN my Eliza was seven years of age, 
^ ^ Mr. and Mrs. Wildman were about to 
leave the island and settle in England, and 
earnestly requested us to allow them to take 
her as their own child, to educate. We could 
not for some weeks make up our minds to 
part with her, but after much reflection we 
considered it best for the child, as she was 
then of an age liable to the fevers of the 
island and as most persons sent their chil- 
dren from Jamaica to school who had not 
such good friends to entrust their children 
to as we. So she went with them. Ann 
Mackglashan also went under their care until 
they arrived, when her grandfather and aunt 
received her. My health now became worse, 
my constitution much debilitated as the 
result of ten years' residence in a warm cli- 
mate, and the next year it was thought nec- 
essary that I should change climate. This I 
was very averse to doing, as my husband 
could not possibly leave his practice, and he 

89 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

would not allow the children to be sent unless 
I went with them. It appeared a duty both 
to their health and their morals that they 
should not remain longer in the island, and 
after many days of painful anxiety, neither 
being able to give the sad fiat that separate 
we must, I did resolve with an aching heart, 
and embarked with my dear little family, for 
whom the sacrifice was made. Now, after 
forty years have elapsed, I can say with sol- 
emn truth that my own health alone would 
never have allowed me to leave my beloved 
husband and I should have risked the conse- 
quences of remaining. The ship Roselle 
for Leith was at Old Harbor, thirty miles 
from Kingston, where we were to embark, 
and on the morning of that sad day when I 
heard that the boat was come to take us on 
board (even now, when I remember my feel- 
ings I cannot refrain from grief) I hardly 
think I was in my senses. I uttered screams 
that distressed my poor husband to such a 
degree that he would then, I am convinced, 
have been glad if I had given up going. He 
begged me, if I felt so reluctant, to let him 
go on board and bring our things back, but 
all I could say was, '' It is too late ! " In the 
90 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

midst of my distress I thought how incon- 
sistent it would appear for me to stay, after 
so much expense and trouble had been taken 
in preparation, for though I may often have 
been thought a vacillating creature, yet where 
principle or character were concerned, I trust 
I have been and can be firm. So the idea of 
the good to my children prevailed, and I bore 
the separation. My husband also felt it 
keenly, for he loved his children and adored 
his wife, but our separation was only to be 
for one year or a little more. 

The war still continued, and my son An- 
drew, then fifteen years of age, was dissuaded 
by his Grandfather Johnston from going into 
the navy, as he wished. The boy had even 
already gone to Leith with some of his juve- 
nile friends who had chosen that profession, 
and had actually shipped on board a tender 
which lay there ; and it was with much diffi- 
culty that the Rev. Mr. Clive, a friend to 
whose chapel Dr. Johnston and family went, 
who had interest with the then regulating 
captain at Leith, got him off. This was a 
few weeks previous to my arrival in Edin- 
burgh. Dr. Johnston had an idea that my 
husband intended his son for the same pro- 

91 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

fession as his own, and knew that he had 
it in his power to bring him forward in his 
practice. This being the case, and as he 
had no interest to bring him on in the navy, 
he induced Mr. Clive on my arrival to beg 
me to use my influence with my dear son to 
choose the medical profession. To our wishes 
his easiness of disposition and amiable, yield- 
ing temper led him to accede, but how much 
happier, in all human probability, would it 
have been for himself and his friends had he 
firmly adhered to his first choice. That want 
of firmness had been a marked feature of the 
child's character from very early infancy, and 
it proved ruinous to him in his subsequent 
life. In his early education many traits of 
character and little faults were kept by his 
too fond widowed aunt and her maiden sis- 
ters from his worthy old Grandfather John- 
ston's knowledge, which had he known he 
might have nipped in the bud. One day, 
when a little fellow, Andrew was with some 
companions near a stall in the High Street, 
filled with sugar candy, or " cut throat, " as 
it is termed, and ginger cakes. The woman 
said to him, " Come, buy, laddie." He had 
no money, was his answer. *' Give me your 
92 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

buttons," said the woman, and the poor fool- 
ish child allowed them to be cut off his coat. 
His aunts, so far as I could learn, neither 
punished him nor told his grandfather, and 
before long he went on to greater faults, 
which their ill-directed affection led them to 
pass over as well. With more watchful firm- 
ness over him he might have been made a 
sterling character, for his abilities were of 
a high order and his disposition was truly 
affectionate and amiable. In features he 
was remarkably handsome, and he stood six 
feet high and was well proportioned. 

At last his father wrote to desire that he 
should be sent out to him that he might 
judge what he was best fitted for, and a few 
months after I arrived in Edinburgh he sailed 
from Leith for Kingston, Jamaica. His do- 
cility and quickness pleased his father, and 
he thought he would do credit to the medi- 
cal profession, so eighteen months later he 
was sent back to commence a college course. 
Thus he was fixed in a profession which he 
did not fully like, and under the influence 
of several companions in Edinburgh, young 
men of fortune whom he had long known and 
to whom he was much attached, he was led 

93 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

often to neglect his classes and join in idle 
pleasures. Often of an evening he would 
order a fire in a separate room, with the fixed 
purpose of studying, when soon after he was 
quietly seated a rap would come at the door 
and he would be desired to be spoken with. 
Then the door would close and I would be 
told that Mr. Andrew and a gentleman had 
gone out. Thus my hopes of his reading for 
that night were frustrated, and I perhaps 
would not see him again until the next day. 
He was an excellent skater, and that robbed 
the lectures of many an hour's attendance. 
Yet so quick were his abilities that I have 
heard my valued friend, Dr. Thomas Duncan, 
who was most studious and who truly sympa- 
thized in my grief, say that he was astonished 
how much my son knew, though devoting so 
little time to his classes, or to study at home. 
Once Dr. Duncan wrote him a letter telling 
him how much I was afflicted, and saying that 
if he did not alter his conduct I would be 
forced to write his father, though dreading 
the effects of his displeasure and the grief 
and disappointment he would feel to have his 
fond hopes so dashed. Dr. Duncan so earn- 
estly entreated him and begged for an inter- 

94 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

view, that for the time it melted his heart, 
and Andrew, having seen our friend, for a 
short time was all we wished. I had at last 
to write my husband, finding how dissipated 
a life Andrew was leading, and he, as soon as 
an answer could be received, desired him to 
be sent out to him. The poor fellow con- 
sented to go, though feeling the disgrace and 
misuse of talents that prevented his going 
with a diploma (a thing that was also bitterly 
felt by his father). Still, he was ever amia- 
ble, and in a letter I received from him on 
his way to Greenock, he feelingly wrote of 
the remorse he had at the pain he had given 
me, and said that he was often ready to throw 
himself on his knees before me and entreat 
me to forgive and forget his bad conduct, but 
that pride prevented. When he reached 
Jamaica he was received by, and for a while 
assisted, his father, yet I fear he never found 
that place in his father's heart he had once 
had. On his first residence in Jamaica he 
had the yellow fever, so fatal to new-comers. 
With unremitting care and with the blessing 
of Providence he got through it, however, and 
the second time he was there was very healthy. 
For four years and eight months before 

95 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

his death he was in practice with a medical 
man of high character, a Dr. Johnston (no 
relation of ours), a very liberal-minded man, 
who took my son into partnership with him 
in the mountains of Clarendon, and loved 
and valued him highly, and saw that his medi- 
cal knowledge was good. 

On Saturday, December i, 1805, Andrew 
came with our friend and his very warm one, 
Mr. Hutchinson, to Kingston, with the in- 
tention of coming out to The Penn, our resi- 
dence, three miles from Kingston, to see me 
and his sisters and his brother Lewis. We 
heard he was in Kingston, and expected to 
see him that evening, but he did not come, 
for he had a slight headache. His sisters, 
who dearly loved this affectionate brother, 
were eagerly looking for him, whose atten- 
tions to them were more like a lover's than a 
brother's. His father thought he should not 
have left his practice, and as there were races, 
thought that they had brought him; but I 
know differently. When his friend offered 
him a seat he could not resist the wish to 
see us and his father, who was on bad terms 
with him, which was a great grief to the poor 
boy, who was then doing well. The next 
96 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

day we were sure of seeing him. Alas, the 
servant who was sent in for marketing 
brought word he was not well. Still I had 
no idea of danger. His father had remained 
with him in town, and I had no means of 
getting to him, the only carriage we had, a 
chaise, the doctor having in town. To de- 
scribe my anguish is impossible. What 
would I not have given to have seen him ! 
Dr. Mackglashan called. I entreated him to 
take me to him, or to ask my husband to send 
for me. At three o'clock Mr. Johnston came. 
He said that Andrew had been taken with the 
black vomit, fatal symptom ! in the night, and 
that his countenance indicated danger. He 
gradually sank, though tonics and brandy 
were given him largely, and he, dear child, 
did not, could not, bear to see our grief, and 
begged that we would not come. 

At six o'clock in the evening Dr. Mack- 
glashan came again. My three daughters were 
in the parlor. Poor Kitty had been a little 
better of her dreadful malady for some days, 
but was not told of her brother's danger. I 
again urged the doctor to take me, saying that 
anything was better than the state of suspense 
I was in. "Could you," he replied, "my 

97 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

dear Mrs. Johnston, submit if you knew the 
worst ? " " Oh, yes ! " I cried. '' Your son 
died half an hour ago," was his heart-rending 
intelligence. As we stood together at the 
end of the balcony, I scarcely recollect how 
I felt, but this I know I uttered : " Shall we 
receive good at the hand of God and shall we 
not receive evil ! " I then said, " I shall see 
his remains taken by this house." Even that 
was denied me. "No," he said, "you must 
be removed to my house, with the girls, in 
the morning, on Kitty's account, who might 
relapse, and you must not let either of the 
girls know of it to-night." Oh, what a hard 
trial for me ! Yet I struggled until bedtime 
with my feelings, and was thankful to get to 
bed, so that I might give vent to my agoniz- 
ing grief. 

He sank calmly. Often have I thought 
what a comfort it would have been to me had 
he had a pious Christian minister or friend, 
even at the last, to have told him of his 
merciful Saviour. His father could not help 
saying (mentioning the calmness and quiet 
with which he left the world, and the smile 
that rested on his beautiful countenance) that 
he was sure there was no vice there. Would 
98 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

he had thought so long before ! Less hard- 
ness would have had a better effect on his 
gentle nature. May that God that seeth not 
as man seeth, but who judgeth in mercy, have 
pardoned the errors of my ill-fated child, and 
have received him into glory, for He knoweth 
what man is, how frail and prone to sin ! 
Our Heavenly Father sees and knows our 
hearts and will pardon where an earthly one 
will not. 

Let this sad history of one cut off in the 
prime of life, at twenty-five years of age, with 
vigorous health, manly beauty (he was, as I 
have said, tall, well-proportioned, and with 
a face such as is seldom seen), be a warning 
to all my grandchildren to avoid idleness and 
dissolute companions, and to study in youth, 
that seed-time of knowledge, that they may 
reap the fruits of honest industry in after life 
and be an honor and credit to their parents. 
This dear child possessed every advantage 
of mind and person. He had abilities of 
the highest order, which he laid at the shrine 
of vice and folly, rendering his parents and 
friends miserable, his mother sorrowing the 
more that his father could not cordially over- 
look his past offences. My beloved offspring, 

99 

LofC. 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

to be sure of acting right, take the Bible 
for your guide, remember your Creator in the 
days of your youth, and pray that you may 
not be led into temptation. My poor son 
had false indulgence shown him in early life ; 
even while at college his weak aunts rather 
took part against me, judging me too severe 
in wishing him to devote more of his time to 
study. I have had severe trials in this life, 
yet I am conscious that I deserved many, and 
none, I believe, have been more than was good 
for me. This is a long, sad history of my 
lamented first-born; let it be a warning to 
youth, and to parents to allow their sons to 
choose that profession their hearts most in- 
cline them to. 



100 



CHAPTER VII 

TN the last chapter I digressed to give a full 
-■- account of the termination of poor An- 
drew's earthly career. My son Lewis had 
been at an academy at Queen's Ferry and was 
well-principled and sedate, and his father 
wished him also to study medicine; accord- 
ingly, he wrote to Edinburgh to desire that he 
might attend some classes, and then go out to 
Jamaica previous to his ultimate study at col- 
lege. After he got to Jamaica his mind turned 
to mercantile business, and his father got him 
into the office of a friend of his, a merchant of 
the first consequence, a Mr. Lake, where he re- 
mained four or five years, until 1806, with a 
salary of ;^200 per annum. Then he suddenly 
took a desire to study medicine, and was al- 
lowed by his father to go to Edinburgh. I 
remained in Edinburgh with my three daugh- 
ters and two younger sons, my father residing 
with me, when the accounts from Jamaica of 
my husband's bad health led me to disregard 
what I most dreaded, a winter's passage in 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

those Northern seas, and embark in the mid- 
dle of November in the ship Roselle, at Leith, 
with my girls. I was at Dumfries with 
Laleah and Eliza on a visit to a friend when 
I got the letter, and I arranged with my 
friend Henry Duncan to take charge of my 
two dear boys, whom I was to leave behind. 
They were then to be boarded with a Mr. 
White at Dumfries, but were to be under his 
care, and I left my house furniture for my 
father to arrange, and parted from him and 
my two good little boys with a heavy heart. 
We had a long, rough passage of ten weeks, 
and encountered in the North Seas, some 
degrees beyond the Orkneys, where adverse 
winds had driven us, most tremendous 
gales. 

While in this awful state my dear girls 
were calm and composed. My youngest, 
Laleah, then in her thirteenth year, who was 
on the same sofa with me, told me with some 
diffidence she had made some verses. As 
she had never before been visited by the 
Muses, it appeared strange at such a time to 
be inspired, the seas literally running moun- 
tains high. With much persuasion I got her 
to consent to allow a gentleman to write the 

102 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

verses down, for we could not raise our heads. 
I must transcribe them, as they show that 
her mind had early been led to things that 
are important, and that she was an affection- 
ate and dutiful child : 

The warring elements obey 

The Lord's Almighty power, 
The northern blast's by him controU'd 

Even at this very hour. 

O why am I so much afraid, 

"Why does each wave alarm, 
Does not the Lord protect me still 

And guard me by his arm ? 

Then let me think I'm here as safe 

As when in wScotia's Isle ; 
A Mother's cheerful countenance 

Makes all her children smile. 

I observed, upon hearing the last verse, that 
she might make some lines on her mother, and 
to my wonder, an hour after she whispered 
she had done so. These verses also were 
taken down, and my heart feels too grateful 
to my affectionate child, even after so many 
years have rolled on, not to put them also in 
these recollections of by-gone days, the retro- 
spect of many of which, alas, is too, too 
sad. 

103 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 



TO MY MOTHER. 

How can I e'er repay the care 

That thou hast ta'en of me, 
Or how restore the nights of rest 

I oft have stolen from thee ? 

'Twas thou that taught my infant heart 

To raise itself in prayer, 
The goodness of Almighty God 

Thou didst to me declare. 

May every blessing light on thee 

To enrich thy mortal store, 
And may the choicest gifts of Heaven 

Be thine for evermore ! 

We arrived safe and well the ist of Janu- 
ary, 1802, and I found my husband in bad 
health, but happy to meet us and much 
pleased with his three dear girls. Catharine, 
then nineteen, an agreeable, fine-looking 
woman, with a great flow of spirits and highly 
accomplished, had great quickness of intellect 
and ready wit, but a temper unequal, and 
subject to violent changes. Though she was 
five or six years older than her sisters, her 
judgment could not be relied on as much as 
that of either of them. From being consid- 
ered a woman so long before they grew up 
she assumed toward them a haughty superi- 
104 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ority, which she could not be brought wholly 
to lay aside when they went into company, 
and in this way she caused me much distress 
of mind. She selfishly desired many expen- 
sive articles, which the others quickly relin- 
quished, knowing their father could not well 
afford them, and if she was opposed poor 
Catharine sometimes exhibited a temper that 
we had to take pains to prevent being made 
public. 

These considerations caused me, weakly 
perhaps, it may be thought, to yield to her 
in many things. Had her Grandfather John- 
ston never taken her from me, thinking to 
benefit her by the advantages she would gain 
in Edinburgh, I should have controlled her 
temper, as I had hitherto done, and given her 
soberer views, and she would, like my other 
children, have been obedient to my will. She 
was only ten years of age when she left me, 
and four years passed before I joined her in 
Scotland, and a very different method of train- 
ing from mine had been pursued with her by 
her aunts. They taught her the catechism, 
made her go to church, boxed her ears when 
she was wild and giddy, and allowed her free 
access to a circulating library, where non- 
105 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

subscribers could for a penny get a novel for 
twenty-four hours. She was fond of reading, 
and with her quick intellect, had I been with 
her at first, before the poison took deep hold, 
could have become interested in studies of a 
higher kind. When she heard I was coming to 
Edinburgh, she imagined me like a heroine in 
a romance, and thought that I would be such a 
mother as was pictured in the highly wrought 
novels she was accustomed to read ; while on 
the other hand, as soon as I arrived, her aunts 
loaded me with complaints of how foolish and 
giddy she was. Perhaps I was too anxious 
to counteract the faults that had been fos- 
tered so long, and may have tried to check 
them too suddenly. Though she saw the 
docility of her young sister Laleah, yet upon 
every attempt I made to alter her disposition 
she imputed to me a preference for her sis- 
ter, which she thought caused my reproofs 
to her, and so a fatal jealousy sprang up in 
her mind. Little by little she brought her- 
self into a highly nervous state, and as her 
health was beginning to decline from her ir- 
ritability, we tried several changes for her. 
When we reached Jamaica she was in excel- 
lent health, and very much admired, for she 
1 06 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

was handsome and well made and was a 
proper height, and she played, sang, and 
danced admirably; yet her passions were 
strong and her judgment weak. 

Soon after we arrived in Jamaica my dear 
Eliza took the yellow fever. A friend of 
Mr. Johnston, a Mr. Hutchinson, had kindly 
invited us to his residence, the Papine estate, 
six miles from Kingston, for the country air 
and to prevent infection in the hot town, and 
though we went, Eliza soon sickened. I 
sent an express off for her father imme- 
diately, who lost no time in coming. She 
had a little headache and languor, and only 
complained in the middle of the day, yet her 
father told me that evening that if she was 
not better in a few hours she could not re- 
cover. It did please God to restore her, and 
the others continuing in good health, six 
weeks after we removed to our own house 
near Halfwaytree. Mr. Johnston's health 
had been declining for some time, and it 
was now thought necessary that he should 
have change of climate, though it seemed 
hard for me after our long separation to 
be again tried in the same way. But so it 
was, and he was away two years, though 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

unhappily he did not find much benefit 
from the change. 

During his absence Laleah was attacked 
with yellow fever and was very ill. After 
his return Catharine was afflicted with a 
nervous illness, combined also with symptoms 
of yellow fever, and was seized with a violent 
bleeding at the nose, which nearly exhausted 
her. She got no rest, and was very irritable, 
and her father was persuaded by Dr. Mack- 
glashan to give her an opiate, which he 
did, at the same time being aware that if it 
failed in its effects it would produce dreadful 
consequences. He gave her eighty drops of 
laudanum, and his worst fears were verified. 
It produced the most violent delirium, and 
she was in a dreadful state, thinking that 
there was an insurrection of the slaves, that 
they had set fire to the house, and that the 
bed she lay on was in flames and we were 
holding her in it. It took six persons to 
hold her in bed, and her poor father said to 
me that night that if she did recover from 
the violence and dreadful derangement she 
showed, he feared something fatal had takisn 
place that would render her an idiot for life. 
After some days of delirium she sank into a 

io8 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

state of insensibility, in which she remained 
three weeks without motion. Only by hold- 
ing a glass to her lips could you tell she 
breathed, and indeed she was with great diffi- 
culty kept alive at all. The first sign of re- 
turning animation she showed was her shed- 
ding a few tears as a gentleman and lady who 
were fond of her, as she was of them, came 
into the room dressed in deep black. She was 
reduced to a skeleton, and for three months 
said no more than " Yes " or " No " when 
spoken to, but would scream if her father 
left her either night or day. Her dear sis- 
ters had not their clothes off for three months, 
and for eighteen did not go out into com- 
pany. They were young in years, but well 
schooled in patience and self-denial. Doubt- 
less the trial was of service ultimately in 
forming their characters and producing in 
them much sterling worth, though it was 
a fiery trial in the furnace of affliction. 
After a time Catharine was so much better 
that she could converse rationally. Then 
she told her sisters what she had suffered, 
how she had thought she was in flames and 
was being dragged over broken bottles. 
While she lay apparently insensible, she 

109 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

said, she imagined she was in a charnel 
house, where she was not permitted to move 
or speak. Such were the sufferings of my 
unhappy child. Slowly she continued to im- 
prove, and she sometimes appeared to take 
pleasure in the piano, which she had always 
been fond of and on which she formerly 
played and sang so well. Some months 
after, however, she relapsed into such a state 
of violence and irritation that a sea voyage 
was recommended, and worn down as I was 
with sorrow of various and trying kinds I 
told her father that as he could not leave 
his practice to go with her, hard as another 
separation from him and my beloved boys 
was, I myself would go. At once a vessel 
for New York was looked for, and my father, 
who was then on a visit to us, agreed to ac- 
company me and my three daughters. 

Not meeting a vessel quite suitable, a 
friend chancing to meet my husband said to 
him : " Why, Doctor, I wonder you who are 
a loyal subject do not prefer sending your 
family to a British Province ; there is an ex- 
cellent vessel going to Halifax, Nova Scotia." 
Little did I then think that I and all my chil- 
dren would ultimately settle in Nova Scotia. 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

When I heard this advice and knew that my 
father was looking at the accommodations 
of the Halifax vessel for us, so little inter- 
course had we with Halifax that I exclaimed, 
" Send us to Nova Scotia ! What, to be 
frozen to death? Why, better send us to 
Nova Zembla or Greenland." So it was, 
however, and early in the summer of 1806 
my father and three daughters with myself 
embarked in a brig of Prescott & Lawson's, 
for Halifax, perfect strangers to every one 
in that place except Mr. Thomson's family, 
who I had reason to think were not living 
in town, but at a place called Hamitfield, 
some distance away. Mrs. Thomson and I 
were both born and brought up in Savannah, 
and were schoolfellows there. I had a letter 
from a merchant in Kingston to Prescott & 
Lawson, and another to James and William 
Cochran, merchants. From the gentlemen 
and their wives to whom the first letter was 
addressed we met with much more than 
civility, they were as kind as near relations 
could have been. Mrs. William Lawson took 
us four females and my woman to her house, 
where we remained until I got a house and 
furnished it. Mr. Prescott took my father to 

III 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

his house, and with great kindness laid in our 
coal and potatoes and even marketed for us. 
Old Mr. and Mrs. Lawson were everything 
that was affectionate and kind, as were all the 
branches of their family. I found the Thom- 
sons in Halifax, and I was very happy to meet 
my old friend after so long a separation. 

My daughter Catharine for a time appeared 
to benefit from the change, and went a good 
deal into private company, and from her play- 
ing on the piano, which she did well, and her 
singing and conversation, she was the de- 
light of all who heard her. But in a few 
weeks, when the novelty wore off and the 
effects of the sea air subsided, she relapsed 
into her former irritable state. I have great 
reason to think, however, that there was in 
her case more of temper and nervousness than 
real mental disease, though the latter did 
exist. Her condition was a source of much 
pain and many privations to myself and her 
dear sisters. Soon after our arrival in Hali- 
fax we met a friend of Mr. Grassie and the 
Messrs. Lawson, a Mr. Ritchie, a lawyer at 
Annapolis. He soon became attentive to my 
beloved daughter Eliza, and some time after 
made proposals to her. His character stand- 

1X2 




Sir William Johnstone Ritchie, K.C.B. 
Late Chief Justice of Canada 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ing high in the estimation of his friends and 
my daughter not objecting, her father was 
written to at Kingston, Jamaica, for his con- 
sent, which from the recommendations he 
received from several persons in Halifax was 
readily given. They were married at Hali- 
fax, June 30, 1807, and a few days after Mr. 
Ritchie took Eliza home, accompanied by her 
beloved sister Laleah, for they were tenderly 
attached to each other, being only fourteen 
months apart in age. Laleah remained at 
Annapolis until bad accounts of my dear 
husband's health, which called for my imme- 
diate departure, made me write for her. 
Then Mr. Ritchie kindly brought my dear 
Eliza also with her to stay with me until we 
sailed. 

My good old father had been on a visit to 
Annapolis but had returned to Halifax, and 
he could not bring his mind to encounter a 
second time the climate of Jamaica, which 
did not agree with his health or habits of 
life, he being always accustomed to take 
much exercise on foot in cooler climates. 
Accordingly he decided to fix himself at An- 
napolis near his beloved granddaughter, to 
which decision I readily agreed for her sake 

113 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

as well as his, since then Eliza would not 
be left without one dear relative. As it 
was, the parting on both sides was severely 
felt. She was a dear, good child, and her 
heart was so affectionate, so free from self, 
that none ever knew her without loving her. 
At this moment, though more than seventeen 
years have passed since she was consigned 
to an early grave, I feel all the tenderness of 
grief as though it were very recent. My 
daughter Catharine had been much worse 
about the time of her sister's marriage, and 
afterward my troubles with her were great 
and sore, yet not more than my Heavenly 
Father thought was needful for me. I hum- 
bly pray that every chastisement may bring 
me more and more from loving the things of 
this world, and render me daily more patient 
under trials and disappointments of every 
kind. 



114 



CHAPTER VIII 

'TT^HE 4th of December, 1 807, we embarked 
-*- on board the ship Rosina for Kingston, 
Jamaica, and had a good passage, except for 
a melancholy accident which happened to a 
passenger. A few hours after embarking 
a Miss Nancy Aikmann fell down the com- 
panion stairs against a trunk in the entry 
and broke her leg. Fortunately, however, 
we were near the Muros, our convoy, who 
sent her surgeon on board. The leg being 
much fractured, it was thought expedient to 
take it off, and that night by nine o'clock 
it was done. The sufferer bore the strain 
with unexampled fortitude. The assistant 
surgeon remained on board the whole pas- 
sage, and the surgeon, Mr. Emwright, came 
frequently to help him. The latter was so 
charmed with Miss Aikmann's sweetness and 
cheerful patience, that after our arrival in 
Kingston he made her offers of marriage. 
No doubt her father's being a very rich man 
may have added one more charm in the eyes 

115 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

of the lover. The couple were married some 
months later in England. 

The I St of January we arrived, and there 
soon after anchoring at Port Royal I had to 
meet the sad intelligence of my dear hus- 
band's death, he having passed away the 9th 
of December, 1807, three weeks before our 
arrival. It was a bitter disappointment to 
me, as I had earnestly trusted we should meet 
again in life. Dropsy, after a complica- 
tion of diseases, was the final cause of his 
death. We went up with our kind Captain 
Potter in his boat to Kingston, where a car- 
riage met us to convey us to Mr. John Camp- 
bell's house. He was a friend, and one of 
the trustees of my husband's estate. Every 
soothing attention was shown us by Mr. and 
Mrs. Campbell, and soon after we got there 
my two dear sons, John and James, came to 
us, mingling their tears with ours — it was a 
sad meeting. In the afternoon our good 
friend Dr. Mackglashan (also another trus- 
tee) came in and took us to The Penn, where 
I remained about a week, when I went to our 
own house at Halfwaytree. The doctor was 
a true friend and did all the practice of 
the workhouse in Kingston for the widow 
116 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

and orphan daughters, so that the position 
could be kept until my son Lewis came out 
from Edinburgh. The physician of the 
workhouse was elected annually, yet my hus- 
band had held the post from the first, and he 
was now succeeded in it by my son. It was a 
lucrative position, though some months more 
so than others. Several months it paid be- 
tween ;£8o and ^90, none less than ^40 or 
£S^' E)r. Mackglashan attended the estates 
for the same object, to keep them for Lewis, 
and while he was absent he gave the emolu- 
ments of both the workhouse and the estates 
to me. The Mackglashans were the sincer- 
est of friends, from Mrs. Mackglashan's first 
coming to Jamaica to the period when I finally 
quitted the island. They were with the doc- 
tor and myself as brother and sister; but 
they are now no more. I have outlived many 
of my contemporaries, and feel the departure 
of each one a loud call upon me, " Be ye also 
ready." The Rev. John Campbell, rector of 
St. Andrew's parish, was another trustee for 
my husband's estate. He and his family 
were much attached to me and my family, 
and were kind and benevolent in their dis- 
positions. The Mackglashans are gone, and 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have long since paid 
the debt of nature. 

I remained in Jamaica three years before 
our affairs could be so settled as to admit of 
our leaving the island. The spring after my 
going there my son James went to Annapo- 
lis, Nova Scotia, to his brother-in-law and 
sister, who resided there. He lived with 
them until I went there, and it was a great 
comfort to his sister Eliza to have him with 
her. At the end of the year my son Lewis 
came from Edinburgh and commenced the 
practice of medicine in Kingston, and the 
January after he was duly elected to the at- 
tendance of the workhouse there. My other 
son John was with Mr. Munro in the office, 
and had a salary of ;£200 per annum, Jamaica 
currency. His character from early life was 
good and dutiful, and he was strict in his 
principles. When he came out from Scot- 
land from under the care of his excellent 
friend and tutor, Duncan, at the age of fifteen, 
he evinced a strength of character seldom 
observed in one so young. A friend of mine 
who was at the head of one of the largest law 
offices in Kingston, a Mr. Munro, offered as 
a favor to take him into his office. At that 

ii8 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

time it was the shocking custom in the law 
offices to have clerks at the office on Sunday 
mornings until twelve o'clock. It was then 
too late to attend divine service, which as in 
other places began at eleven o'clock. When 
I told my beloved John of Mr. Munro's offer 
and asked if he had any objection to the pro- 
fession, he said he had none, but at the same 
time he requested that I would ask that his 
Sundays should be passed as he had been 
used from childhood to pass them; that he 
should not be compelled to be at the office on 
Sundays at all. When I told Mr. Munro his 
request, he asked me if John would attend 
church. "Certainly; it has ever been his 
custom to do so," was my reply. He then 
promised me he would grant his request, but 
no other except the head clerk, Mr. Marshall, 
had the same privilege. Mr. Marshall was 
a pious young man, very useful in the office, 
and as might be expected from one of his 
good principles, very faithful. His salary 
was £s^o per annum. My dear boy was 
also most conscientious, and went almost 
an hour earlier than the other clerks and 
left the latest, so he well made up the time 
of the few hours on the Sabbath, which he 

119 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

could not answer to his Divine Master to 
break. 

Some years after, an elderly friend, who 
was about putting his son into the same 
office, told me that Mr. Munro had said to him 
that no one except the head clerk should be 
exempt from Sunday attendance. I told my 
friend the promise had been given my boy 
and I could not think it would be broken. 
Should it be so, I hoped my child would be 
able to earn his living some other way, with- 
out breaking the divine law, and added that I 
had never prayed for riches for my children, 
but rather that they should be good, religious 

members of society. " After all, Dr. M ," 

I added, "they can only starve, and though 
that would be a lingering death it would be 
better than sinning against their consciences." 
When my dear John came home I told him 
what had passed, and asked if Mr. Munro had 
said anything to him on the subject. He 
answered he had not, but should he do so his 
mind was made up. When anything agitated 
his calm mind he became very animated, 
and on that occasion he took many rapid 
strides across the room, at the same time say- 
ing he was resolved not to remain; but he 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

was never spoken to on the subject. My 
friend was balanced between the feelings of 
a man of the world and the breaking of a com- 
mandment, and he no doubt hoped to have 
my son keep his poor son in countenance. To 
the office his son went, and from mercenary 
motives became an habitual Sabbath- breaker. 
The poor lad had been religiously brought up 
in England under the eye of a pious aunt, 
whose heart ached at the sad alternative. 
Alas, what sacrifices are daily made at the 
shrine of Mammon, and' how little pains are 
taken to secure that inheritance that fadeth 
not away! 



121 



CHAPTER IX 

A S I have already said, it was nearly three 
-^ ^ years from my return to Jamaica before 
I could get the affairs of the estate so arranged 
by the trustees as to allow of my return and 
that of my two daughters, Catharine and 
Laleah, to Nova Scotia. In the summer of 
1810 we embarked for Halifax, accompanied 
by my son John, whose health required a few 
months' change of climate, and who had ob- 
tained leave from Mr. Munro to remain as 
long as he felt it necessary. On my arrival 
at Halifax we were kindly received by all our 
friends there, and not long after Mr. Ritchie 
came to town with his horse and gig to take 
us to Annapolis. Catharine and myself went 
with him in his carriage, and another horse 
and gig were hired for dear John and Laleah. 
We arrived safely at Annapolis, where we 
had the happiness of meeting my father, my 
beloved Eliza, and my son James, who had 
left me the year before. My Eliza had two 
dear boys. John was two and a half years 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

old, Thomas, a stout boy, ten months old. 
Their mother was looking thin, but well in 
spirits, the fatigue of nursing and having the 
charge and attendance of two such children, 
without a regular servant, was more than a 
delicate female brought up as she had been 
was equal to. As soon as I went to house- 
keeping I relieved her of part of her care by 
having John stay with us. We helped Eliza, 
especially on wash day, a grand event which 
occurred once a fortnight in every family, at 
which all the servants assisted, and when it 
was thought a great indulgence if the mis- 
tress had no more labor than to have the fag 
of all the children. These customs were new 
to my beloved child, brought up as she had 
been in the habits and comforts of a lady, 
who had had that and other work done by 
servants, all with their regular employments. 
On those stirring days I had Tom also 
brought to my house, who if he was not quite 
as great a favorite with his grandfather as 
his first great-grandson John, who bore his 
name, was with his Aunt Laleah and myself 
a great pet. Mr. Ritchie's mother had the 
charge of his house and took the head of his 
table ; she was old, but well and active, and 

123 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

would have felt the want of her usual em- 
ployments had dear Eliza as mistress of the 
house taken the sole management upon her- 
self. She, however, had enough to occupy 
her, with a rapidly increasing family and the 
care of nursing and attending upon them. 
She was an affectionate wife, and a tender 
and judicious mother, and she was a great 
economist. In her lively manner she used 
to say, when we laughed at her for putting 
together as many as ten pieces from a pair 
of her husband's trousers to make a suit of 
clothes for little Johnny : *' While Ritchie 
has to work so closely in his office, I think 
it my duty to save all I can." That spirit of 
pride, or ambition shall I term it, that led 
her to try how much butter she could herself 
make in a season, was more than her delicate 
frame could long endure. Besides, her rest 
was always liable to be broken by an infant 
at night. Until John was past three years 
of age, however, he lived with me, and from 
an old-fashioned prayer-book with large print 
I taught him his letters and to spell little 
words. I think he will now be glad to 
find that I wish him to accept the sacred 
book, and leave it for him to remember his 
124 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

old grandmother and dear aged great-grand- 
father by, who so greatly doted on him. 
The book may be valued, too, for its anti- 
quity, it having been printed in Queen 
Anne's reign. If he has children he may 
say, "This was your great-grandmother's." 

My dear Eliza had dear Laleah added to 
her family January i6, 1812. Her next was 
William Johnston, born October 29, 18 13. 
My beloved father died the 4th of November 
after — making just one week between the 
birth of the infant and the demise of the aged 
great-grandparent. He had a rapid dropsy, 
which was tapped with apparent success, but 
in a few days the water increased greatly and 
he went off very suddenly. At his request, 
I had left him for a few moments sitting up 
in the arm-chair, for he had been better that 
day and had conversed a little with me. I 
could not stay long away, however, fearing 
he might feel weak if he rose from the chair, 
and I called at the door, " Allow me to come 
in now.'^ " There was no answer, and I went 
in just in time to save him from falling off 
the side of the bed where he was, against 
the edge of the hard bedstead. He was then 
very faint, and just as I approached fell back 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

on the bed. I was alone. He was a heavy 
man, his legs were hanging over the bed 
and he was in danger of falling, but I got on 
the bed, raised him in my arms, and strength 
was given me to support him from slipping 
down. His dear, venerable head lay on my 
shoulder, he breathing quick, but gently as 
an infant. There was no creature in the 
house at the time but my poor daughter 
Catharine, and I screamed for her. She 
came to me, and I begged her to fly to Mrs. 
Fraser, and bring her, Dr. Hinckle, or any- 
body. She went, and Mrs. Fraser and Dr. 
Hinckle both came in, and took my beloved 
parent from my arms and laid him on the 
pillow, when with two gentle breathings he 
was gone. Mr. Ritchie and Dr. Robertson, 
who were at the Court House, soon came and 
helped me to my chamber, where I lay com- 
pletely exhausted after my exertion of mind 
and body. 

My dear Laleah, who had been the tender- 
est of nurses for weeks, and was ever, as were 
all my children, the most dutiful and affec- 
tionate of grandchildren, seeing him so much 
better that morning, told me that if I sat 
with my father she would go and see her 
126 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sister and get a little fresh air, and also, chief 
of her errand, get some eggs to clear jelly 
for her grandfather, little thinking how soon 
he was to be called away. He was a fond 
parent, and thought only too much of his 
child and her offspring. I hoped I had done 
my duty but, alas ! what child can say, when 
deprived of a beloved parent, that she has 
not been wanting in numberless instances 
whereby she could have shown her love and 
gratitude. 

My beloved Eliza before her confinement 
was daily with us, helping to take care of her 
dear grandfather, and feeling that every day 
would be the last she could expect to keep 
up. The last day, October 28th, she said: 
" I will stay as long as I can, for I know I 
shall not in all likelihood see him again," 
and she remained until ten o'clock that night. 
The next morning we heard that her little 
son William was born. My son James ar- 
rived that morning from Halifax, and as soon 
as my dear father saw him, he said, " You 
have come, my child, to see one just come 
into the world and another about quitting it." 
All who knew the dear old gentleman revered 
and loved him. He was in his seventy-ninth 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

year, and I, his only child, now recording 
these events, am past since May last my 
seventy-second year. But what avails the 
longest life ? It is but as a vapor, so soon 
passeth it away. " So teach me to number 
my days that I may apply my heart unto wis- 
dom." 

My dear Laleah was married, January 29, 
1 8 14, after these events, to Dr. William 
Almon, and I trust the union has been a 
happy one. Religion, I mean vital religion, 
was then at a low ebb, but he was brought 
up by parents who were regular in their 
duties and attentive to the morals and relig- 
ious observances of their children. Great 
changes have taken place in Halifax since 
that period, and low as is still the standard 
of Christianity among the bulk of the com- 
munity, yet many souls have lately been 
awakened to see their need of a Saviour's 
atoning blood, and to rejoice that His free 
grace can wash them from all their sins if 
they only have faith in Him. We must all 
who are concerned in these momentous ques- 
tions pray that Christ's kingdom may daily be 
extended over our land, and that our children 
may be rescued from the dominion of Satan. 
128 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

On November 20, 18 14, their first child 
was born, a daughter, who was called Laleah. 
January 27, 18 16, their son William John- 
ston was born. February 9, 1 8 1 6, my daugh- 
ter Eliza's son, James Johnston, was born. 
He was called after his Uncle James, who 
was also his godfather, which at that time 
met his wishes. Elizabeth Lightenstone 
Ritchie was born October i, 1817, and my 
daughter Laleah's dear Amelia was born July 
20, 1 8 1 7. Our beloved and ever-to-be-lament- 
ed Eliza soon after got a typhus fever, which 
injured her constitution, and she was in deli- 
cate health for some time. I left Annapolis 
when her child was three weeks old, and 
passed the winter in Halifax with my daugh- 
ter Laleah, but returned to Annapolis in the 
spring. Myself and all her family were very 
anxious that our dear Eliza should be taken 
to another climate, but our entreaties did 
not prevail and that summer passed away 
and she was still ailing and weak. 

The winter of 18 19 found her growing 
worse ; a short cough, hectic flush, and fever- 
ish symptoms gave us real cause for dread, 
and all that winter she was confined between 
her bedroom and the drawing-room on the 

129 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

same floor. Dear James and Bessy were her 
constant companions. I also saw her almost 
daily, no weather keeping me from her. My 
son James drove his sister Laleah up in May 
to see their beloved Eliza, and she brought 
her youngest babe, whom she was nursing, 
with her. She was called Elizabeth, after 
me. Our dear invalid rallied a little and 
was downstairs a few times to dinner, but 
soon after kept chiefly upstairs. She ex- 
pected to be confined early in June. James 
and Laleah could not remain so long, and 
they parted for ever (at least in this world) 
from their dear and most beloved sister. She, 
too, must have had a presentiment that her 
continuance would be short, by her wishing 
and proposing that her sister should take her 
daughter Laleah with her, that at her death 
she might be brought up by that darling sis- 
ter whom from infancy she had loved as her 
own soul. This we conjectured could be 
her only motive for parting from her child 
at such a time. After they were gone she 
often begged me to request her sister to get 
her Laleah improved in writing, that she 
might write her often, and she frequently 
spoke of it. Whether her Laleah made out a 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

line to her mother I do not remember. She 
seemed to feel the parting from her, as she 
was seven years and a half old, and a very 
companionable child. 

On the 14th of June of this, to me, event- 
ful year Mr. Ritchie came in the morning 
to break the news to me of the death of my 
dear daughter Catharine, which took place 
on the 2d of June. It was a shock to me, 
as I had formed the plan, if dear Eliza recov- 
ered from her confinement, to go to Boston 
to see her. If I found her well enough in 
mind I intended to bring her home. My 
son John was to visit us that summer, and 
what hopes, what happiness were anticipated 
in such a meeting of dear friends. Alas, 
my Heavenly Father in His wisdom saw 
fit to order it far otherwise, and to frustrate 
our earthly schemes. On the day that I 
heard of poor Catharine's death I could not 
venture to see Eliza, lest I should by look or 
feeling discover the sad news to her. Dear 
creature, ever mindful of her mother's com- 
fort, and suspecting that I would not eat any 
fruit or other nice thing I got but keep it 
until hers were done, that day got some 
oranges from her brother James, who wrote 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

her he had sent her a larger supply by a ves- 
sel. She gave Mr. Ritchie's niece Harriet 
Ritchie some oranges to take to me, with 
strict charges to be sure to cut some of 
them and see that I ate a part, so thoughtful 
was she ever for the comfort of others, espe- 
cially of her mother. If I were called upon 
to bear testimony whose individual character 
I had ever known most free from selfishness, 
I could with truth and boldness say it was 
my beloved Eliza's. In early childhood she 
evinced the disposition to impart to others 
whatever she had, and the disposition grew 
with her growth. 

That night she was seized with violent 
fever, and it was thought had taken cold from 
imprudently cutting out a piece of Russia 
sheeting, which might have had a cold damp- 
ness about it. Be that as it may, she con- 
tinued ill all night, and next day labor came 
on, and in the evening (June 1 5) dear George 
was born. She was put to bed that night 
extremely weak, but she thought herself bet- 
ter and slept a few hours very comfortably. 
When she awoke she observed that she had 
not enjoyed so much good sleep for a long 
time. After that, however, she was not so 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

well. Dr. Randolph had been called away 
to another female patient and did not see 
her, but early next day, when he did, he was 
much alarmed at her situation. She had 
great pain in her chest and oppression of 
breathing, and he advised bleeding, and 
wished to call in Dr. Simpson. I was in 
agonies to have Mr. Ritchie send express to 
Kentville for Dr. Bayard, and he had the 
horse and his faithful man Quin ready to 
start, when the doctor said to Mr. Ritchie 
he thought he had better defer sending until 
they saw the effects of the bleeding. He 
yielded, poor man, and I was sadly distressed, 
for though that was Wednesday night, the 
doctor could not possibly have got there, 
using all the haste he might, before Friday 
night. 

It was the will of God. When He is 
about to call us hence there are many ways 
of ordering events, which our poor, blind, 
ignorant minds cannot discern. Submission 
is our part, yet how hard a lesson it is for 
most of us to learn. 

On Wednesday evening she was bled, but 
though sensible the first two days after her 
delivery, she never got any better, and it ap- 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

peared that she apprehended danger, for upon 
their bringing her a night-cap to change, she 
observed that it was one of her best and that 
the vinegar used about her head might spoil 
it and she wanted another. When Miss 
Cross was trying to make the infant take the 
breast, which he was long doing, Miss Cross 
said: " Take it, you little fooly." My sweet 
Eliza smiled, and in her playful way said, 
"That's not a family failing, Margaret." 
From Thursday she grew worse, wandered a 
good deal, and often repeated, " What does it 
avail, what does it avail ! " Once when I 
was standing by her bedside she repeated 
these words, " My children, my poor chil- 
dren ! " I asked what she wished for them, 
but she seemed to have gone off from the 
subject. The post was going, and I wrote 
my dear James and also Dr. Bayard, to hasten 
their coming. But it was too late for any 
human skill to avail. She soon sank into a 
stupor, and on Saturday afternoon, the 19th 
of June, 18 19, departed this life, after a short 
mortal struggle, leaving all who had ever 
known her to deplore deeply her loss. She 
was only in her thirty-second year, and so 
was cut off in her prime. Our Heavenly 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Father, in thus early removing my beloved 
child, no doubt saw in His infinite wisdom 
that it was best for her, yet we cannot see 
things as we ought, and it seems to us that 
it might have been better for her motherless 
children had she been spared. May the 
prayer that has been so often and fervently 
offered for these children at the throne of 
grace have been heard, and may they be 
blessed with all needful temporal good, and 
above all with the grace that may lead each 
one to supplicate at the throne of grace for a 
renovation of heart ! 

Dr. Bayard and my dear James rode day 
and night, and arrived on Tuesday night at 
ten o'clock, and no words can describe the 
grief of my son, who had not realized her 
danger, to find his sister a corpse. We had 
kept her remains with difficulty, in the hope 
that he would be in time to attend the last 
solemn offices, and this he was enabled to 
do. On Wednesday morning her dear re- 
mains were interred in the Annapolis church- 
yard, where my dear father lies, and where 
dear Laura was laid some years since and an 
infant child who was still-born. It is a place 
hallowed to me, and I could wish my remains 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

might rest in the same spot; but there is 
little chance of that happening, as I am now 
in Halifax, and from my age it is not likely 
I shall ever pay Annapolis another visit. 

After these heavy losses, the anticipated 
pleasures of that expected summer were over- 
thrown to us survivors. My dearest son 
John went to New York, intending to visit 
Boston on his way, that he might see his 
sister Catharine. When he arrived there he 
found that she had departed this life a week 
before. It was no doubt a shock and disap- 
pointment to him, yet not one to cause such 
poignant grief as he was soon after to feel, 
for Catharine's had been for years a life of 
suffering and mental disease, with no chance 
of recovery, and she was now released from 
its continuance. John soon left Boston for 
Annapolis, where he arrived a few days after 
the funeral of our dear Eliza, and where he 
remained a few months with us. 

I soon broke up housekeeping to live with 
Mr. Ritchie and watch over his children's 
health and morals. I stood to them now in 
the place of their dear mother, for I knew well 
her wishes, plans, and hopes for her children. 
Her great principle was to exact from them 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

implicit obedience, and those who were old 
enough at her death evinced by their con- 
duct the benefit they derived from her disci- 
pline. After awhile my dear John went to 
Halifax to see his sister Mrs. William Almon 
and her family, and his brother James, who re- 
sided there and practised as a barrister. Some 
time after he returned to Annapolis to see 
us, and then, about January 7, 1820, he went 
back to Jamaica. 



137 



CHAPTER X 

/^NE evening I received a letter from my 
^^ dear James, announcing as carefully as 
he could his intention of going to Madeira for 
his health. He was going, he said, merely 
to please his friends, and I must not suppose 
there was any cause for alarm, for he was not 
very unwell. It was thought, he said, that 
escaping the winter would establish his health 
perfectly. He wrote everything that such an 
affectionate child would be sure to write, to 
reconcile me to the dread of what might hap- 
pen, but after so recently losing my beloved 
Eliza, his determination fell upon my spirits 
that night most heavily. At length I betook 
myself to my only source of consolation, and 
on my knees prayed at the throne of grace 
for my child's safety, and then opened the 
Word of Life. Let it not be called enthu- 
siasm when I say that my eyes lighted on 
some most consoling texts of Scripture, 
which did then and after strengthen and com- 
fort me. I felt assured my child would be 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

preserved, and I rose with a firm trust that 
my prayer was heard. From that time I was 
peaceful, and although the day after he sailed, 
the 1st of February, there was a heavy snow 
storm and gale, still I knew in whom I trust- 
ed and was not cast down. My dear John, 
the morning after James' letter came, set 
out on horseback to see his brother. He 
also was going back to Jamaica, and this 
event hurried him off sooner than he would 
otherwise have gone; then he, too, parted 
from me. Mr. Edward Cutler accompanied 
him to Halifax, and his presence made the 
journey less dreary to him. It was hard to 
part with dear John, though he was then in 
good health. James arrived safely at Madeira, 
remained there a month, and returned after 
three months' absence, in good health, which 
filled my heart with gratitude to Almighty 
God, who had been so merciful to me. The 
cataract on my left eye now became gradu- 
ally worse, until at length it obscured the 
sight, and not long after the other eye in- 
flamed, and a cataract was just discernible in 
an incipient state. Through the use of medi- 
cines, however, it was suspended for a time, 
but at last my sight was almost obscured. 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

In the year 1821 my son James married 
Miss Amelia Almon, an amiable and well- 
principled girl, who, by her tender affection 
and religious, well-directed mind, has ren- 
dered him very happy. They have had a 
large family, of whom six are now alive, 
a seventh being expected shortly. My son 
Lewis removed to this country from Jamaica 
with his family about May, 1822, and settled 
in Halifax. He and his wife had then three 
daughters, but now their children number 
fourteen. By the mercy of our Heavenly 
Father they will, I trust, very soon be the 
happy parents of their fifteenth child. One 
they lost in Jamaica, a girl, Mary Ann, and 
another seven years and a half past, called 
William, a fine boy about three years of age. 
May a blessing be upon all my dear grand- 
children, that they may be led to love religion 
and remember their Creator in the days of 
their youth ! How happy was the good Phil- 
ip Henry (Matthew Henry's father), whose 
children took religious, pious partners. Of 
the religious state of his twenty-four grand- 
children he thought so well as to venture to 
say he thought "God had set His seal upon 
them. " May we not humbly suppose that 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

as his children married pious helpmates, the 
parents united in care and vigilance to infuse 
into their children's minds from early age 
the spirit of love to God and duty to men, 
and with earnest prayer sought a blessing on 
their endeavors. How much do I now see 
the necessity of forming religious connec- 
tions, to insure comfort and joy to people's 
offspring. Yet, alas ! how little is religion 
attended to even by religious parents, and 
still less by the young persons themselves. 

When my sight failed I was very desirous 
to have something done to restore it if possi- 
ble, and at one time I was advised to give an 
oculist from Boston a sum of money to come 
to Halifax, and pay all his expenses until his 
return. Indeed, my son Lewis came to An- 
napolis in June, 1823, to take me to Halifax 
for that purpose, but I ever felt reluctant to 
the plan, and Dr. Almon, with an eminent 
army surgeon, examined my eyes and I think 
put belladonna on them. The doctors found 
that the nerve was perfect, and that they 
were in good condition for an operation, but 
Dr. Almon, not seeming to think that the 
doctor from the States could do it better than 
our own medical men, entered into what had 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

been ever my own strongest wish, to go to 
Scotland or England to the fountain head. 
There was some difficulty for a time as to 
who would go with me, but my mind was 
made up to go, and I arranged with my 
friends the Davidsons that I should go to 
Edinburgh to them, and that Miss Davidson 
would attend me to London and remain with 
me until I was ready to go back with her to 
Scotland, where I had a pressing invitation 
to stay with her family a twelvemonth or 
more. These were the husband and children 
of my departed friend. However, my son 
Lewis made up his mind to go himself with 
me, and we embarked in the Lady Wellington 
packet, the 20th of April, 1824, for Fal- 
mouth. We had a short but severe passage 
and were nearly lost, the vessel being thrown 
on her beam ends in the effort to lay her to. 
We remained lying to for forty-eight hours, 
the waves breaking over us all the time, but 
it pleased the Lord to spare us. I was very 
weak and worn out with the roughness of 
the passage when I landed at Falmouth, but 
I went on soon after to London, and was rec- 
ommended to Mr. Lawrence, a celebrated 
surgeon and oculist, who was also at the head 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

of the Eye Infirmary and gave lectures there 
to students. After much inquiry as to who 
was best, and after some weeks of preparation 
to bring my system to a more healthful state, 
he was fixed on, and on the i6th of June I 
was operated on in my left eye, and but for a 
faintness coming on after it, should then have 
had the other eye done also. Twelve days 
after, the right eye was operated on, but not 
with the same success ; inflammation ensued 
and I suffered much from it for weeks, and 
became reduced and feeble. After all my 
suffering I have now no sight in it, but I do 
not regret that, since my sight is so merci- 
fully restored in the other eye, which has 
since been free from weakness or inflamma- 
tion. It is now thirteen years, or will be in 
June, since I received my sight, and for the 
blessing I can never be grateful enough 
to my Heavenly Father, who though He 
chastens yet in mercy gives comfort to His 
afflicted children. 

Before I left England I was kindly invited 
by Mr. and Mrs. Brimmer Belcher to pass 
a week at their residence at Roehampton, a 
pleasant spot quite like the country, with 
lawn and gardens and greenhouse plants. 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Lord Ellenboro, who was their landlord, lived 
within three-quarters of a mile of Clarence 
Lodge, where Mr. and Mrs. Belcher, Sr., 
resided; there I was also hospitably in- 
vited. After spending a week with the 
younger Belchers, I left, having experienced 
from Brimmer and his truly excellent wife 
the kindness and attention of children. I 
felt the more grateful as in my then weak 
state I was too ill to converse or afford them 
any pleasure from my company. At Clar- 
ence Lodge I stayed a month or more, and 
under Providence I think I owe to Mrs. 
Belcher and her kind-hearted family much of 
my recovery. I had together with good 
nursing every luxury that their then ample 
means afforded; it was the season when 
fruits of the greatest variety were in profu- 
sion, and they gave me these and indeed 
every other luxury that could be had, and all 
with the most affectionate kindness. I got 
my strength there, and returned to my lodg- 
ings quite recovered. 

A few days before we were finally to leave 

London for Falmouth Mrs. Belcher took me 

in her carriage on a Saturday to Clarence 

Lodge, where I remained until Monday, when 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

she returned to town with me. She gave me 
to take to sea a large basket of the nicest 
gingerbread, six bottles of very old Madeira, 
with a present of a handsome lace pelerine, 
and all appeared to take an interest in me. 
My gratitude to them will ever remain warm 
and sincere. I had a kind invitation from 
the Roupells to pass a few weeks with them 
at their country seat, twenty-eight miles from 
London on the way to Brighton, but Lewis 
was anxious to return to his family in Nova 
Scotia and he could not accept their kind in- 
vitation nor comply with the wish of Mrs. 
Johnston (wife of Judge Johnston of Trinidad) 
to take lodgings with or near her at a water- 
ing or sea-bathing place in Kent, where she 
was going for some weeks. No doubt these 
changes might have been of service to my 
health and have strengthened me more for 
my voyage a month after, but the reasons for 
sailing for home were strong with my son, 
and though my last treated eye was still 
weak and inflamed and I was not strong in 
body, yet it was so ordered that we left Lon- 
don on the 1st of September, 1824, for Fal- 
mouth, in a post-chaise. I had with me Sally 
Bower, my woman, and we slept that night at 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Salisbury, the next night at Exeter (weather 
very hot indeed), and the next at Bodmin, 
and got to Silly's Green Bank Hotel next 
day, where we remained a few days. Lady 
Mitchell and her daughter, with Miss Uniacke 
and her brother Mr. James Uniacke, came 
down the day after us and were at the same 
hotel. They called on me at my apartments, 
and were very polite and civil. We were to 
be fellow-passengers in the same packet, and 
on the 9th we embarked, I going on board 
with Lady Mitchell in Captain King's barge, 
which he sent to take her and her family on 
board the Cygnet. The lieutenant and com- 
mander, Mr. Goodwin, was very attentive and 
obliging, and the accommodations were very 
comfortable and the fare excellent. 

There was a Mr. Fraser on board, a civil 
engineer, going to Upper Canada with his 
newly-married wife. She was a very pretty 
looking, lady-like woman. Both were Scotch. 
She had been well-educated, and this was her 
first separation from indulgent parents and 
kind friends. She and her husband had been 
only three months married, and the poor lady 
was dreadfully homesick besides being very 
seasick; she was so ill the whole passage as 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

never to be able to sit at a single meal, and 
she seldom even came on deck. She was un- 
used to the sea and did not seem to know in 
any way how to remedy the evils she labored 
under, so with my usual wish to aid those who 
require it (Mr. Ritchie would call it Quixot- 
ism) I lectured the steward's mate, made him 
more attentive to her stateroom comforts, 
made her take good chicken broth and arrow- 
root at night with cheese and porter at times, 
got her into my cabin, which was more airy 
than hers, and was soon repaid by seeing her 
grow much better in health and spirits. She 
was very interesting. I had one letter from 
her from Upper Canada, and she appeared to 
estimate my trifling services much beyond 
their worth. 

We arrived at Halifax the 13th of Octo- 
ber, 1824, and found all well. I forgot to 
mention that while at sea my eye inflamed 
very much, and when I landed my children 
were disappointed and feared all my expense 
and exertion would prove useless. It pleased 
my Heavenly Father, who orders all things 
wisely, however, though I lost the sight of 
my right eye from inflammation, to preserve 
the other, and it has continued ever since 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

healthy and strong. For this blessing I can 
never be sufficiently thankful. I recovered 
my health and strength in a few weeks, and 
remained at Dr. Almon's until May, 1825, 
when I heard of the death of Mrs. Ritchie. 
This induced me to go up immediately to 
Mr. Ritchie and his children and offer my ser- 
vices and consolation, and once more assume 
the care of my sweet Bess, who before her 
father's marriage had been long under my 
care, the child of my old days. My son 
John, who married in Jamaica, also came 
with his wife and settled in Annapolis, and 
while their house was repairing they visited 
Mr. Ritchie. My new daughter, dear Laura, 
was a charming young woman, the meekest 
and purest-minded being I have ever met 
with, from her spiritual-mindedness in relig- 
ion appearing fitter for heaven than earth. 
Her first child, a fine girl, was still-born, 
for her sufferings were so long and pro- 
tracted that the poor babe died just as it 
entered this world. The mother bore her 
sufferings with the patience of a saint. My 
beloved son had been persuaded to pass the 
night at Judge Ritchie's, and coming home 
early, finding his wife still suffering and dan- 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ger apprehended, he fell down in the parlor 
in a swoon, which greatly alarmed me. Dear 
Laura had a better recovery than we could 
have hoped for, and about a year after she 
had a sweet little girl born, whom they called 
Mary. 

Before her birth I removed to Halifax. 
Soon John and Laura came on a visit, with 
Mary, who was then eight months old and 
had a beautiful, angelic countenance, and 
sweet, winning ways. Alas, I fear she was 
too much an idol with both parents. When 
John was about to leave Annapolis to at- 
tend the House of Assembly at Halifax in 
the winter, he wished to bring his wife, and 
she also wished to accompany him, but the 
fear of risking their child's health in a win- 
ter journey (though she might have been 
guarded in a close-covered sleigh) made my 
son feel it best that dear Laura should re- 
main at home with Mary, which she as usual 
meekly assented to. She was alone with 
two servant women and a boy, but as there 
were only a few that had minds congenial 
with her own, and as they could not for a time 
be with her, she preferred remaining as she 
was. The session was nearly over, a week 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

more and her husband would again be with 
her. The first of April, in excellent health 
and spirits she wrote her husband a letter, 
her child being within a week of one year 
old. The stage was to leave next morning. 
Oh, shall I proceed ! for even now after the 
lapse of eight years my heart sickens at the 
recollection. That night after reading and 
praying with her household, she retired to 
her own room, where she was wont to offer 
up her private devotions and read the Word 
of God to herself. The person who attended 
the child had laid her in bed, had seen that 
everything was right and that her mistress 
had no further commands for her, and had 
gone to the kitchen, which was next her room. 
Scarcely had she seated herself in the kitch- 
en when she heard two knocks on the wall. 
She quickly hastened to the room, where she 
found Laura in a flame of fire. Another ser- 
vant ran into the kitchen, where two buck- 
ets of water stood, and dashed water over her. 
But alas ! everything on her was burned. 
Her body was fearfully burned, and she was 
an agonizing spectacle. A servant was sent 
for the doctor and for Mrs. Davies, a kind 
friend, and blankets were put over her for 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

she was then shivering. The words she ut- 
tered were: "This is a judgment of God's 
to bring me nearer to Him," and at another 
time: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" 
Everything was done by the doctor and 
her friends to mitigate her pain, and what 
medicine was best for her was given her. 
She was wonderfully patient and calm, and 
gave what account she could of the acci- 
dent. She went to snuff her candle, and she 
thinks the snuff fell on her clothes. My poor 
child had that day for the first time laid off 
her merino dress and put on a muslin one 
with a deep flounce. It is thought that 
in attempting to light her candle she may 
have turned hastily round and her flounce 
caught in the flame, for when she discovered 
it the lower part of her dress was all on fire. 
Her clothes were all loosened except the top 
button of her frock, which she thought of un- 
buttoning and letting drop off her with the 
rest of her clothes, but her too nice modesty 
shrank from this. Her next idea was to wrap 
herself in the merino curtains of her bed- 
stead, but she feared that she would set fire 
to the curtains and risk the baby's life. Her 
third was to take a pitcher of water and throw 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

over herself. I do not recollect whether all 
these thoughts passed through her mind be- 
fore she knocked or not, but she had never 
been called upon to act for herself and had 
always had a governess, a parent, or a hus- 
band to look to for everything. Had it 
been otherwise, had she been trained to think 
and act for herself, she would have resorted 
to one of these means at the first appear- 
ance of the fire. Hers was a strong mind 
in matters that concerned her spiritual wel- 
fare, but in temporal things her diffidence led 
her to lean on others. It was the will of God. 
He saw that her pure and gentle spirit was fit- 
ter for mansions of bliss than to encounter the 
storms of adversity here, and the next morn- 
ing she gradually sank into a stupor, and at 
9 o'clock Friday night, April 2d, breathed 
her last. Thus was my meek, angelic child 
translated by a painful and sudden death into 
the presence of her Saviour and her God, 
where all is praise and adoration. 

The sad news of the accident was carried 
to Halifax by William Ritchie, early on Fri- 
day morning. By his exertions he prevailed 
on the passengers to allow the stage to go off 
at 2 o'clock in the morning. When he got 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

to Kentville, where the stage was to stop, 
the dear fellow hired a wagon and travelled 
all night. The roads at that season were 
deep and heavy, and he got to town only 
about lO o'clock Saturday morning, bring- 
ing a letter from Dr. Bayard telling my 
son what had happened. He saw his poor 
uncle in the street on his way to the House 
of Assembly and had not the heart to tell 
him, but when he asked how all were, con- 
trived to evade the question by saying 
he had a letter and would call with it. 
My dear son was in a hurry to get to the 
House of Assembly and William came im- 
mediately to his Uncle James', where I then 
resided, and told him the dreadful news. He 
went for my son Dr. Lewis Johnston, to ac- 
company his poor brother to Annapolis and 
take whatever was needful for the suffering 
patient ; then he went to the stage office and 
engaged a wagon to go off directly. Next, 
he called his uncle from the House and gave 
him Dr. Bayard's letter, and he and Lewis 
set out on their journey on Saturday forenoon, 
the 3d of April. The roads were so bad that 
with their utmost exertion they did not reach 
Bridgetown until early Monday morning, and 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

there they heard of Laura's death. The 
shock to his nervous system, added to the fa- 
tigue of his journey and the exhaustion of his 
winter's work, threw my son into an alarming 
state, and he went at once into a kind of 
fit. Fortunately, however, his brother was 
with him to use means for his recovery, and 
they got to Annapolis the day before the 
funeral. 

Laura's face had escaped disfigurement, 
which was a comfort to all her friends, 
but from dear Lewis' account of the rest of 
her body it was dreadful to behold. O how 
mysterious and past the conception of finite 
creatures are the ways of God ; they are past 
finding out, yet all is done in wisdom and 
mercy. We can only wonder, adore, submit, 
and kiss the rod, praying for that divine aid 
which may, indeed, enable us to say, " Thy 
will, not mine, be done." 



154 



CHAPTER XI 

T WENT to Annapolis as soon as the roads 
-*- were passable, and remained with my son 
and took care of sweet little Mary, who was 
more than ever an idol with her only parent. 
She was certainly a lovely child, with a most 
amiable disposition, which has always contin- 
ued with her. Some years after, my age and 
his anxiety about his dear child induced my 
son again to think of marriage. What was at 
first suggested to him by motives of friend- 
ship and prudence was by and by urged upon 
him by stronger feelings. Meeting unex- 
pectedly with a pleasing, amiable young lady, 
a Miss Kelly, whose character he had heard 
highly extolled, his heart was soon wholly 
hers, and he was not long in declaring him- 
self. She also had heard by their mutual 
friends the Bayards of St. John his character 
highly praised ; and indeed they knew so much 
of each other from different people that when 
they first met they were far from being really 
strangers. They were married the 17th of 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

September, 1832, and lived happily together 
for the few years it pleased God to spare my 
son. They had a daughter, a fine child, whom 
they called Laura after his former wife, and 
sixteen months after her birth they had a son, 
called James Kelly, after his maternal grand- 
father. 

My beloved son always enjoyed good 
health, and he came up to Annapolis (where 
I was then on a visit) to attend the Septem- 
ber Court. After the Court was over he 
hurried down to Clare to visit his constit- 
uents in that part of the county, and when he 
returned was in Wilmot also for the same pur- 
pose. On Saturday he left Annapolis for 
Kentville by the stage, a conveyance which 
often makes travelling very rough and severe. 
He must have felt it so, from his writing 
me from Kentville by no means to come in 
that coach for it would be too much for me. 
My beloved child was ever mindful of his 
mother's comfort. He went on Monday in 
the other stage that travels from Kentville 
to Halifax, but stopped at Mrs. Fultz's, 
where his wife and family were, for change of 
air, and a day or two later they all returned 
to town together. A few days after they 
156 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

reached Halifax he ruptured a blood vessel, 
but it was not then thought certain whether 
the blood he discharged was from his lungs 
or from some of the vessels in the back of 
the throat. I returned from Annapolis soon 
after, and was greatly shocked to find how ill 
he had been and how weak and pale he still 
was. After that he never wholly recovered 
his health and strength, and he often had 
colds and coughs. 

At last he was advised to go immediately 
to the West Indies. It was then, however, 
November, and the winter setting in severe he 
did not go. When the House of Assembly 
met in January his medical and other friends 
urged upon him the necessity of not attend- 
ing the session. My dear child would attend, 
however, and though promising he would not 
stay many hours at a time in the House, 
when he Avas once there he got too much en- 
gaged in what was doing to adhere to his reso- 
lution. Indeed, I never knew him enter so 
much into the spirit of what was doing in the 
legislature as that winter. For a time he 
used to write late every night on the currency 
question, a labour which was fatiguing to both 
mind and body. On the 19th of March, about 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

3 o'clock in the morning, he was seized with 
a vomiting of blood. Though it soon stopped 
he grew noticeably weaker, showed every 
symptom of consumption, and constantly lost 
flesh and strength. 

A few weeks later he was able to bear a 
drive in a closed carriage, and accompanied 
by his wife he removed to his brother James' 
house, it being large and in an airy part 
of town. I remained at his house, where I 
had been for some months on a visit, and 
took care of his children. He was still much 
bent on trying the effects of a sea voy- 
age, and though his medical friends saw 
little to hope for, they did not wish to pre- 
vent the only chance he had of recovery. 
On the 4th of May, 1836, he embarked on 
board the Camden packet. Captain Tilly, for 
Falmouth, England, but everything was 
against him. The passage was much longer 
than usual with packets, the fare was miser- 
able, and when my beloved child got to 
Falmouth he was quite exhausted, the fatigues 
and privations of the voyage having tended 
greatly to aggravate his disease. 

After a short time, finding no hope of re- 
covery, he anxiously wished to return by the 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

next packet to Halifax, but the medical gen- 
tlemen gave it as their opinion that he could 
not survive the voyage, and he then gave up 
the idea, and calmly and patiently and full of 
the humble Christian's hope in Christ his Re- 
deemer, and in His all-atoning blood, yield- 
ed with meekness to the will of his heavenly 
Father. He found much comfort from the 
kindness and Christian conversation of some 
truly pious persons, the Rev. Mr. Burchell 
of the Baptist Church at Falmouth, and a 
Mr. Bond of his church. They, their wives, 
and the doctor who attended him, soon forgot 
they had lately been strangers to him and felt 
and acted toward him as if he had been their 
brother. His deportment was sweet and ami- 
able, calm and resigned, and all his mind was 
given to reading or hearing read the divine 
word of God. His wife and little Mary were 
with him, his two younger children having 
been sent to their grandmother Kelly's care 
at St. John, New Brunswick, previous to their 
parents leaving Halifax. 

For a few days he rallied and his appe- 
tite was good, but his lungs were gone and 
he daily wasted away. He was sensible to 
the moment of his departure to his rest. He 

159 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

asked Mrs. Burchell what her brother the 
doctor said of the probabilities of his case. 
She answered with tenderness that he did 
not think he would live over two days. He 
appeared solemn and thoughtful, and after a 
little pause said he was resigned to the will 
of God. In his conversation he evinced a true 
faith in his Redeemer's blood and in the divine 
promises. The day before his death Mrs. 
Burchell said to him : " Mr. Johnston, do 
you know you will soon be entering the 
dark valley of the shadow of death ; are you 
able to realize it? " He calmly and sweetly 
took up the verse and answered : *' I will fear 
no evil, for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy 
staff they comfort me." Such was the trust 
he had, and shall I doubt his happiness now } 
O no ! may I be as well prepared as he was. 
He spoke a few minutes before his death, and 
took a teaspoonful or two of wine and water. 
When asked if it should be cold or warm, he 
said, "Warm." As soon as he was raised 
up and supported to swallow it, he shut his 
eyes and appeared to fall asleep. The doctor 
was on one side and his wife on the other, 
and as they laid him on his pillow, with one 
or two gentle breathings, he passed away. 
1 60 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

" One gentle sigh, his fetters break, 
We scarce can say he is gone." 

My departed child was a truly religious 
man, pious and holy in his walk in life and 
deeply reverencing the sacred word of God. 
He died on the nth of July, 1836, at Fal- 
mouth, England, and was interred in the Bap- 
tist burying ground there, far from all his 
beloved friends. His wife had a stone put 
over his grave, containing his name and age, 
with the simple inscription, " Blessed are the 
pure in heart, for they shall see God." 

Mrs. Johnston, with little Mary, returned 
in the August packet to Halifax, and the 
meeting was a trying one to us all. As 
soon as she had recruited in some measure, 
with her child she set out for Annapolis on 
her way to St. John, where her two other 
children were with her mother and sisters. 
It was a great trial for her, meeting her father- 
less babes. She remained there through the 
winter, her little boy being ill, and in the 
spring came with her children to Annapolis, 
some weeks after going with them to Wilmot, 
where she remained all summer and autumn. 
The country air restored James to health 
and greatly benefited them all. She now re- 

161 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sides in Halifax, and it is a great comfort to 
us to have her here. 

In March last, this year 1837, we were 
called to sustain another heavy affliction by 
the sudden death of our dear Amelia, the be- 
loved wife of my son James and the tender 
and exemplary mother of his children. It 
was her delight to clothe the naked, feed 
the hungry, and educate poor little children 
who were growing up in poverty and vice. 
Not only was she concerned about people's 
secular needs, but she strove to impart re- 
ligious knowledge to the minds of all she 
had the opportunity of conversing with. Her 
activity of mind and body in doing good 
was truly wonderful, and though she per- 
formed her outside charities so well, she 
did not forget her domestic duties nor 
ever neglect the minds and bodies of her 
own dear children, who numbered six. By 
her now bereaved and sorrowing husband 
(who sorrows, however, not without hope) is 
her loss deeply felt, for with her Christian 
conversation and her affectionate sympathy 
in his every care, sickness, or pain, she was 
the great solace of his life. Her death was 
a public loss; the poor of all descriptions 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

mourned for her as their mother; even the 
Catholic priest, who knew her charities had 
been equally extended to his poor, lamenting 
her death, said to a friend of hers, " She was 
truly a good woman ! " Thus mysterious are 
the ways of our heavenly Father. She was 
only thirty-five, and we looked for years of 
usefulness to be hers, but not so was her 
Lord's will; her work in His vineyard was 
done, and He perhaps foresaw evil to come and 
so in love and mercy called her early to Him- 
self. May that blessed Saviour who took our 
nature upon Him, and who knows that we 
are weak and frail, be the support and com- 
fort of her dear afflicted husband. The care 
of their six children devolves wholly upon 
him, and deeply does he feel the responsi- 
bility. Never was there a tenderer parent, 
nor one more deeply interested in his chil- 
dren's temporal and eternal welfare. Dear 
little Agnes, who had been delicate from 
her birth and about whom dear Amelia was 
very anxious, is his especial care. She 
was unwell for a time, but is now robust 
and hearty. Her sister Amelia, turned five 
years of age, is a fine, healthy child; his 
other daughter, in her sixteenth year, is a 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

very promising girl and has an excellent 
disposition, and I hope by her docile and 
dutiful conduct will prove a great comfort to 
her beloved parent. I pray also that his 
three dear boys may be all he wishes. My 
prayers are daily offered at the throne of 
grace that they may be led to love and serve 
God and seek an abiding interest in Christ. 
My fixed home is with Lewis, and in my 
quiet apartment at his house I have the great- 
est possible freedom to read, write, and med- 
itate. 



At my time of life it is needful to cause 
the mind to dwell deeply upon the awful and 
momentous change which must soon take 
place in my frail body, and on the great trans- 
ition of the soul. If prepared, what a de- 
lightful change from earth to heaven ! If the 
prize is so great, what manner of persons 
ought we to be; how little ought we care for 
the perishing body so soon to be food for 
worms, and how exclusively ought we take 
thought for the soul that never dies. 



164 



LETTERS 

FROM 

DR. LEWIS JOHNSTON TO HIS SON WILLIAM 
MARTIN JOHNSTON 

Savannah, July 17, 1773. 
Dear Billy: 

We were all made very happy by receiving 
your letter of the 25th ult., together with the 
letters of Mr. Roberdeau and Dr. Rush. The 
very kind reception you met with from these 
gentlemen demands on our parts the warmest 
return of thanks, and on yours the most grate- 
ful acknowledgements, which will be best ex- 
pressed by a constant care to please them, 
and to preserve that place in their regard and 
esteem which you have been so lucky thus 
early to obtain. 

I cannot express the satisfaction it gave 
your mother and me when we read the hand- 
some and friendly things they both said of 
you in their letters, and the great hopes 
they gave us of your success in your future 
studies. Your outset is fair and promising 
and let me beg of you earnestly for our sakes, 

165 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

but more especially for your own, that such 
agreeable prospects may not be blasted by any 
want of application on your part, for however 
good your opportunities of acquiring useful 
knowledge may be, yet be assured that unless 
you cooperate by unwearied diligence with 
your teachers, all their pains will be but to 
little purpose. It is my wish and intention 
to give you such an education as may qualify 
you for discharging the important duties of 
the business you have made choice of, with 
honour and reputation. A skilful physician 
is one of the most respectable and useful per- 
sons in society ; an ignorant pretender to it, 
the most despicable and mischievous. I con- 
fess it is an arduous task to acquire that ex- 
tensive knowledge which is necessary to qual- 
ify a man to make a figure in this profession, 
but this so far from discouraging a young man 
of spirit, ought rather to stimulate him in the 
pursuit of it, as there is no branch of knowl- 
edge necessary for a physician which is not 
agreeable and useful in itself, and what every 
gentleman of liberal education ought at least 
to have a general knowledge of. I intended 
to have been more particular on this head, 
and to have given you such advice as might 

i66 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

have been useful to you in regulating your 
conduct in other matters so as to avoid the 
errors that people at your time of life are in 
danger of falling into, but the situation of my 
mind renders me incapable of it, and 'tis with 
difficulty I have been able to throw together 
these general and unconnected observations. 
You may remember when you left us, your 
sister Nancy was sickly and had been so for 
some time. She continued in this way but 
daily losing flesh and strength, till the 14th 
instant, when it pleased God to deprive us of 
our sweet child. I need not tell you how 
great our affliction has been and still is, for 
you know how much we doated on her. May 
God make up to us this severe loss by doub- 
ling our comfort in those that are left. Your 
mother intended writing, but is not in a con- 
dition to do it now. She joins me, however, 
in praying for your happiness. 

Your affectionate father, 

Lewis Johnston. 



Savannah, September d, 1773. 

Dear Billy: 

At the time I parted with you, though I 
thought it absolutely necessary for your own 

167 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sake, yet I must confess I did it under very- 
uneasy apprehensions, grounded on your 
want of application to your education, and 
to the violence of your temper, which though 
borne with by us would not fail when you 
went among strangers to create you enemies 
and be to you the source of much discomfort. 
Judge then, my son, how agreeably disap- 
pointed both your mother and I were when 
we receiv'd the first letters from your Guar- 
dians, full of your praises and of the great 
expectation they had of your turning out in 
a way that would do honour to you and us. 
I can truly say that this letter concerning you 
gave us more pleasure than you ever had 
given us from the hour of your birth. All 
your past errors were obliterated from our 
memories and you occupied the first place in 
our favour and affections. To dash all those 
pleasing hopes in the course of a few weeks, 
and fill our minds with the most pungent 
grief by your repeated acts of folly and in- 
discretion, was a cruelty to us that must 
cover you with shame and confusion, if you 
have any sense of humanity, not to say duty, 
remaining. My heart is so full on this occa- 
sion that I know not how to express my feel- 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ings. It is my duty so to represent your 
conduct that you may both see and feel the 
faults you have been guilty of, so as to be 
able to guard against committing the like in 
future. You solemnly declare you will not 
again give us cause of uneasiness ; I am wil- 
ling to believe it, but my dear son, do not for 
your own sake, for ours, trifle with me in this 
serious matter, for should you continue the 
like imprudences, the affections of your par- 
ents may be lost to you for ever, than which 
I cannot conceive a greater misfortune to a 
mind that is not totally deprav'd and divested 
of ev'ry feeling of humanity. God has pro- 
nounced a blessing upon the dutiful child 
and uttered a curse against the disobedient, 
which last never fails as far as my observa- 
tion and experience reach (and I have known 
but too many fatal examples) to fall heavy 
upon the undutiful sooner or later. It is a 
matter of great consolation to me that I can 
with truth say I never gave one hour's uneas- 
iness on account of my conduct to my father, 
to the hour of his death, though I was older 
when I had the heavy misfortune to lose him 
than you are now. I always had and still 
have the highest notions of the love and duty 

169 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

a child owes its parents, and I only wish my 
children to act on the same principles which 
I flatter myself guided me in my endeavours 
to discharge the duties I owed my parents. 

Courage and spirit (as 'tis called) are no 
farther commendable qualities than while 
under the guidance of reason and religion, 
therefore avoid every occasion of disputes and 
quarrels, as they may, from the warmth of 
your temper, hurry you into some rash action 
that will make you miserable all the days of 
your life. I know of no cause that can jus- 
tify a man either in risking his own life or 
in attempting to take another man's, except 
self-defence, the protection of an innocent 
person, or the safety of one's country. Such, 
I believe, are the real sentiments of every 
man of sense when he listens to the voice of 
reason and humanity, however differently he 
may act when he is influenced by false cus- 
tom or the principles of a romantic honour. 
False custom, I say, for nothing can be truly 
honourable that is not strictly virtuous. 
Avoid carefully as your greatest bane, idle, 
disorderly, and vicious company. Many a 
young man of the best disposition and the 
greatest promise has been ruined by falling 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

into that snare. Of this I hope you need no 
proof after what has happened to yourself ; if 
you want more, look round and you will see 
but too many fatal examples. Did I think 
your errors arose from a want of knowledge 
of your duty I should enlarge much more on 
this subject, but as I know this is not the 
case, hinting at these things to you I hope 
will be sufficient, and it remains with yourself 
to profit by them or not. May God enable 
you to profit by them. 

What now remains is to extricate you from 
the difficulties you have plunged yourself 
into; I have written fully to Mr. Rober- 
deau on the subject, and have directed him to 
use every method in his power to have the 
affair made up, but if that cannot be done, to 
send you immediately to New York to my 
friend. Dr. Peter Middleton, who is a profes- 
sor in the medical college there and who 
will I doubt not receive you kindly. To con- 
clude, let me once more earnestly intreat you 
to give close application to your studies, 
and make the best use of your time and op- 
portunities, for if it should please God to 
call me out of this world soon (and you know 
my constitution does not promise long life) 

171 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

you must then return home where it will be 
impossible for you to get the education that 
is necessary. You do not want natural abil- 
ities, which if you take care to improve by 
a few years' study, will put it in your power 
to be happy all the remainder of your life. 
In full hopes of your endeavouring to make 
me happy, I am still, dear Billy, 

Your affectionate father, 

Lewis Johnston. 

Savannah, Feby. 5, 1774. 

Dear Billy: 

I rec'd your letters by the packet & was 
glad to hear you attended the classes closely. 
I wish I had also heard you gave application 
to your private studies, but I have already 
press'd these matters upon you with every 
argument and motion I thought would operate 
on one not totally void of reflection and gen- 
erous sentiment. Should they fail of rous- 
ing you to a proper degree of attention, any 
thing else I might add would prove useless, 
and you may live to repent your conduct 
when it will be too late to remedy it. In 
such case the only consolation that will re- 
main for me, as a recompense for the vast ex- 
172 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

pense and care I have been at, is that I have 
done my duty. I am sorry to find Mr. Rober- 
deau & you continue on bad terms ; he may 
be & I believe is too strict, but I cannot 
doubt of his good intentions. It gave me 
great concern to find you had left off attend- 
ing Mr. Lind ; you are deficient in the lan- 
guages and your neglecting this opportunity 
can admit of no excuse. Dr. Rush recom- 
mends your attending Prince Town College 
in the spring. I hope you will make a bet- 
ter use of your time than you did last Sum- 
mer. This step it seems is become necessary 
to break off some irregular connections, I am 
heartily sorry for it & hope it may have the 
desir'd effect, but remember that a change of 
place without a change of disposition will 
prove no remedy for the evil. I have writ- 
ten plainly to you on these matters ; this my 
duty and a tender regard for your interest 
requires. 'Tis a disagreeable subject to me, 
pray let it be the last time I shall have occa- 
sion to enter on it. I intend sending your 
brother Andrew in April to Prince Town Col 
lege, which I dare say will be very agreeable 
to you. He is a good and dutiful boy, & be- 
haves so as to gain the esteem of all that know 

173 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

him. Give me grounds for indulging the 
pleasing hope of seeing you both return 
qualified to make a figure in your several sta- 
tions ; you both have good natural abilities. 

Your mother has been dangerously ill. I 
need not tell you how tenderly anxious she is 
for your welfare. 

I am yours, 

Lewis Johnston. 

Savannah, March 13, 1774. 

Dear Billy: 

I wrote you a long letter by Capt. Bunner 
about the middle of last month which I hope 
you have receiv'd before now. The contents 
of it I earnestly recommend to your most 
serious consideration. This will be delivered 
to you by your friend Mr. John Habersham, 
to whom I refer you for the news of this 
place. I hope you will receive my next 
letter by your brother Andrew, whom I in- 
tend to send in Capt. Bunner's vessel the 
next voyage he makes from this. At the 
same time you may expect to see Mr. Read's 
son ; I have recommended to his Father the 
sending him to Prince Town during the 
summer months. He is a sober young man, 
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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

very diligent in his application to his busi- 
ness & therefore a very proper companion 
for you. I hope to be able to send with An- 
drew a sufficient sum to keep you & him for 
one year in the prosecution of your studies ; 
but whether I shall be able to do more for 
you I very much doubt as I dayly expect to 
be strip'd of every thing I am possessed of 
by my creditors, who are now determin'd to 
give me no longer indulgence. I mention 
this to you to show you the absolute necessi- 
ty for your making the best use of your pres- 
ent opportunities, that you may not only be 
able to provide decently for yourself, but also 
be able to assist your brothers & sisters 
when it shall please God to render me incapa- 
ble of doing it, or to take me from them. 
As I am convinced you do not want a proper 
degree of natural affection I hope this con- 
sideration will stimulate you to a diligent ap- 
plication to your business, as the only means 
by which you can have it in your power of 
being serviceable either to yourself or to 
them. At the time my father died he left a 
numerous family of small & helpless chil- 
dren. Tho* I was then younger than you are 
now I consider'd them as a charge which I 

175 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

was bound by every tie to protect & provide 
for to the utmost of my abilities, & I bless 
God for having given me hearty inclinations 
for the discharge of that duty, & for having 
put it in my power in some measure to sup- 
ply the place of a husband to my worthy 
mother, & a father to my brothers & sisters. 
The consideration of my having conscien- 
tiously discharged that important duty fills 
my mind with such satisfaction & compla- 
cency as it is not in the power of fortune to 
deprive me of, & it will continue a source of 
rational pleasure to the last moments of my 
life. 

I mention this, not out of ostentation, nor 
do I claim any merit for having done my 
duty in a case where if I had neglected it I 
must have been without natural affection & 
dead to every feeling of humanity. All I 
mean by this is to point out to my son the 
path I wish him to walk in should he ever be 
in like circumstances. 

I have nothing further to add but my 
hearty prayers, in which your mother joins me, 
for your health & happiness. I am, dear Billy, 
Your affectionate father, 

Lewis Johnston. 
176 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

My respectful compliments to Dr. Rush. 
I wrote to him by Capt. Bunner. You will 
if you have an opportunity, introduce Mr. 
Habersham to Dr. Rush as the son of a 
friend of mine. 



Savannah, Deer. 4, 1774. 
Dear Billy: 

I rec'd your letter of 13th ult. by the 
Georgia Packet, and one from my worthy 
friend Dr. Rush; the favourable account 
that gentleman gives us of your conduct 
affords the highest satisfaction to all your 
friends, and as they have the firmest reliance 
on your making it your study to merit the 
continuance of his approbation & friend- 
ship, all doubts & uneasiness on that head 
are utterly remov'd. I see by the Doctor's 
letter that you are attending the classes, 
which with the hospital will fully engage 
your whole time and not leave you a moment 
to spare for any other avocation. The very 
close application your studies will require 
may at first be a little irksome, but persever- 
ance will soon render it easy and agreeable to 
you. It was my intention when you went to 
Philadelphia that you should spend two win- 

177 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

ters there and then go to Edinburgh, but on 
reflection I think it will be better for you to 
remain another winter in Philadelphia, and 
am happy to find Dr. Rush and I agree on 
this head. With respect to any objections 
you may have to Philadelphia, I think they 
cannot be of any great weight. You ought 
to consider that pleasure and amusement were 
not the things in view in sending you there; 
wherever you have the best chance of im- 
provement is the place you should choose, 
independently of every other consideration. 
There is one point respecting your future 
conduct while you are absent from me which 
I have not yet touched on, but which I think 
it my duty now to mention, because you are 
come to that time of life when caution be- 
comes necessary on this head, and because 
the want of this necessary caution and pru- 
dence had like to have prov'd fatal to me at 
the same period, being then unhappily de- 
priv'd by death of the advice and admoni- 
tions of a tender father to guide me through 
the snares which surround unthinking youth. 
What I mean to warn you against are love 
entanglements, which are the more danger- 
ous as they often wear the semblance of vir- 
178 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

tue. As for the gross and animal gratifica- 
tion of that passion which has assum'd the 
name of love, I trust the delicacy of your own 
sentiments will preserve you from it. Don't 
mistake me, I am far from condemning a vir- 
tuous & well plac'd affection, I should be un- 
grateful if I did, as it has prov'd a never 
failing source of happiness to me and has 
sweeten'd many a bitter portion in my life. 
All I mean to warn you against is too early 
connections of this kind, which as they are 
generally more directed by passion than rea- 
son & prudence, are likely to become the 
fatal sources of misery & affliction. A step 
which in its consequences will infallibly 
greatly affect the happiness or misery of a 
man's whole life ought never to be taken 
without the greatest caution. I hope I have 
no reason to doubt your prudence on this 
head; however, what I have said cannot be 
improper. I have seen Mr. Le Conte & his 
wife; she is an agreeable woman, and 
speaks handsomely of you. 

The Resolutions of the Congress I have 
seen; they have much disappointed my ex- 
pectations, for instead of endeavouring to draw 
a line which ought to apportion the politi- 

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Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

cal boundary between Great Britain and the 
Colonies, or of proposing a reasonable plan of 
accommodation, their general tendency to me 
seems to be to exasperate & inflame. I will 
not accuse them of any such intention, & I 
heartily pray I may be mistaken in the opin- 
ion I have form'd. There is to be another 
attempt made to bring this Province to accept 
the Resolutions ; had they been framed with 
that prudence & moderation many expected, 
I believe they would have met with little op- 
position, but on the footing these matters 
now have I believe the best and wisest men 
will discountenance them. 

I am yours affectionately, 

Lewis Johnston. 



FROM CAPT. WILLIAM MARTIN JOHNSTON 
TO HIS WIFE, AND FROM MRS. JOHN- 
STON TO HER HUSBAND. 



Savannah, March 3, 1780. 

My DEAREST Husband : 

I embrace this opportunity of writing by 
Capt. Murray, who goes for Ogeechee this 
day, and I hope may meet you there. I am 

180 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

very sorry you did not stay and go with him, 
as the passage round will be attended with 
many inconveniences, & be so tedious that a 
man of your impatient disposition must find 
it truly disagreeable. 

You cannot conceive how much I regret 
the loss of your company ; the state of mind 
that I was in when you left me, together 
with the thought of its being no longer a de- 
lusion but real, almost distracted me. Oh my 
dearest husband may you never experience 
the feelings of your Bess ; the parting is but 
for a month, yet it appears a tedious, painful 
while to be separated from those we tenderly 
love. How shall I pass the lonely evenings, 
which when blessed with your presence I al- 
ways considered so short. Last night when 
I went into my room and missed you, I 
thought my poor heart would have burst. I 
now find 'tis too tender, especially when I 
consider how subject it is to fresh troubles 
every day; but I will endeavour to bear 
things patiently. If you can only re-estab- 
lish your health once more the hope of a 
speedy return will give pleasure to a heart 
weighed down with grief by your absence. 
May kind providence grant you a safe pas- 

i8i 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sage and every blessing this life can afford, 
is the fervent prayer of 

Your affectionate wife, 

Eliza Johnston. 

Savannah, March lo, 1780. 
My dearest Husband: 

I am this moment informed of an opportu- 
nity of writing by way of St. Augustine, 
which I eagerly embrace, well knowing by 
my own feelings the satisfaction you must re- 
ceive at frequently hearing from me. I wish 
you had it in your power to write me con- 
stantly, but I hope after your arrival to hear 
very often, as communication is pretty fre- 
quent between the two provinces. Was I to 
write daily, the chief purport of my letters 
would be but to say I love you dearly and 
how happy hearing often from my dear, good 
husband would make his Bess. 

I very often think that tho' fate has or- 
dered it that we should be frequently sepa- 
rated she has yet left us a very great conso- 
lation in knowing that our hearts are united 
by the lasting bonds of love and friendship, 
which time nor absence can never in the least 
diminish. Oh, if we could never part, the 
182 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

meanest hovel in the world would satisfy my 
unambitious temper, but even that is a happi- 
ness we are denyed, and all the pleasure I at 
present enjoy is to think how joyfully I shall 
meet you at your return. I hope that happy 
day is not far distant when I shall again be- 
hold my life, my husband, and be once more 
restored to his dear, fond arms. But the 
thought is so pleasing that I must plead an 
excuse for the strain in which it has led me, 
as you may think such rapturous expressions 
not so becoming in my sex. If you do, pray 
let the anxiety your absence creates serve as 
an excuse, together with the joy, the unspeak- 
able joy, the thoughts of your return must 
occasion. The girls desire to be kindly re- 
membered to you, I shall write papa by Mr. 
Schoide, and will request him to get our dear 
little Will for us. 

Adieu my dearest husband, and may every 
blessing attend you, prays your affectionate 
wife, Eliza Johnston. 

Savannah, March 15, 1780. 

My dearest Husband: 

I wrote you a few days ago by the Com- 
missary's Brig, but am not certain whether 

183 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

she has sailed yet, and fearing the contrary- 
take this opportunity by Mr. Haven, who sets 
out for Ogeechee in the morning, as he expects 
the vessel has got round in which he goes 
from that place, I hope they may have a 
quick passage so that you may have the pleas- 
ure of hearing from me soon after your arri- 
val. I give you no occasion to complain of 
my negligence, as I have written by every 
opportunity that has offered. 

It made me very happy to hear of your 
having sailed, as I began to despair of your 
ever leaving Ogeechee ; I hope ere this you 
are safely landed in St. Augustine. 

If you can but return in good health once 
more to your Betsy I shall envy no creature 
breathing. Your presence always makes me 
happy beyond expression, and I have no wish 
but to please you in everything ; if I but ac- 
complish that, I shall be sufficiently happy. 
People here seem to be fond of following our 
example in the matrimonial way. Miss Tan- 
natt was married the evening before last to 
Mr. Thomson, & our Sister has fixed the first 
Tuesday in April for her wedding day. 
Mrs. Muller will be married this week, so 
you see what a spirit of matrimony has got 
184 




ELIZABE'IH LlCHTENSTElN JoHNSTON 

in later life 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

among them, but I dare venture to affirm 
none of them will be happier than ourselves. 
I even doubt their being as happy ; the former 
is impossible. I must beg of you to get some 
sweetmeats done for me. 

Adieu my dearest and best of husbands, 
may you be as happy as your absence from 
your Bess will admit of. 

Your Eliza Johnston. 

St. Augustine, March 23, 1780. 
My dearest Betsey: 

I have just heard of a conveyance for Sa- 
vannah, and the opportunity of writing 
affords me a pleasure which I have been a 
perfect stranger to since I left my lovely 
Betsey. I need not tell you how great my 
disappointment was in not having it in my 
power to write by a vessel that sailed the 
day after our arrival here. I was deprived 
of that great satisfaction by being unwell & 
not able to land till the day after. Our pas- 
sage was tedious & disagreeable beyond ex- 
pression. 

I will say but little of St. Augustine as I 
am not in a mood to do it justice. 'Tis situ- 
ated pleasantly and healthily, being quite 

185 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

open to the sea. I am very kindly received 
in all the families of any note here. They 
seem desirous to amuse and please me, yet I 
am neither well nor happy, in short a para- 
dise would lose its beauties without my lovely 
Betsey. 

Dear Eliza, in some humble cell 
Could I but thee securely hold, 
In everlasting peace I'd dwell 
Nor think of power, nor covet gold 
The world no more I'd wish to see 
Content to dwell with love and thee. 

Yours truly, 

W. M. Johnston. 

St. Augustine. March 27, 1780. 

My dear Betsey: 

A vessel has just arrived in two days from 
Savannah, and not one line for me. To 
what shall I impute this .? My darling Bet- 
sey is not unwell I hope, and yet above all 
things I cannot impute it to neglect. My 
Betsey knows too well from her own feelings 
how great my disappointment must be. 

I wrote a letter two days ago, which I ex- 
pected to have sent by Mr. Findlayson, but 
was disappointed by his trip being put off. 
Nor do I know when I shall have an opportu- 
186 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

nity of sending this. However, I shall be 
ready for the first, and indeed I receive a 
secret pleasure from writing, which next to 
being with my Bess is the greatest of my 
life. 

29. 

I was just about closing my letter, very 
much dissatisfied indeed, when Mr. Haven 
surprised me with my dearest Betsey's two 
letters. The happiness they afford me is not 
to be expressed, and is to be felt but by few 
and I believe very few indeed. To taste this 
exquisite pleasure 'tis necessary to love as I 
do. And now my Betsey that I am pleased 
(and it is the first time I have been so since 
my arrival) let me think a little of my 
friends. I wish Miss Tannatt & Mrs. Muller 
much joy, but for my Sister Laleah, may she 
be happy as her own wishes can make her, or 
more ; may she be bless'd as I am. I am 
sent for to dinner, and the vessel sails this 
afternoon. 

May God bless my dearest girl, prays your 

W. M. J. 



187 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Savannah, Dec. 27, 1780. 

My dear Husband : 

After a tedious passage of four days we 
arrived here late last night and found the 
family all in perfect health. Mrs. Farley is 
very unwell owing to the severe cold we had 
for a night and a day on board the boat. 

An express going off this afternoon affords 
me this opportunity of writing my dearest 
husband, the only satisfaction I can have in 
the absence of the best of men, for I have no 
happiness but in your presence. The pleas- 
ure of meeting with friends I so dearly love 
was but momentary, for I cannot be cheerful 
when deprived of all I hold dear, and I fear 
my distress will be much augmented by the 
next account I receive from Charlestown, 
which I greatly apprehend will be of your 
having left that place in order to join your 
Regt. Let me beg you, my life, my hus- 
band, as you value the peace and happiness 
of your poor girl, not to think of doing so 
until you are perfectly restored to health. 
Try in the interim to get leave to come with 
papa, perhaps they will not refuse your re- 
quest. Fortune has been favourable to me 
in one instance, in giving me a husband in- 
188 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

dulgent even to my foibles, whilst she has 
been cruel in obliging us to be separated. 
Would to heaven we were never to be parted 
and then my happiness would be complete 
and I should have no wish ungratified. 

I shall take care to put your brother Lewis 
in mind of speaking to your father about 
getting you some employment in the civil 
line, may God hear my prayers and grant me 
success. I cannot express the feelings of my 
full heart to my best of men. I would tell 
you I love you more than my own life, but 
you are well convinced of that already, and I 
must beg and entreat that you will come by 
the first opportunity, if you possibly can con- 
sistently with duty. 

May the All Wise Being protect & guard 
my dearest husband, is the ardent prayer 
of your faithful Eliza Johnston. 

Charles Tow^, /any. 2, 1781. 
My dearest Bess : 

I have been looking for your letters with 
all the anxious expectation of one who fondly 
loves, till this morning the return of the boat 
that carried you to Savannah put an end to 
my hopes. I cannot account for this omis- 

189 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sion and am too much interested not to be 
hurt at it, indeed my whole happiness con- 
sists in hearing from you often, 'tis this alone 
which "heals each anxious care that love 
like mine in absence frames." I shall be 
under the necessity of joining the Reg't. 
soon, though I find the buying of horses will 
^be very expensive and very difficult. Let 
me know as soon as possible whether I can 
get the horse I sent for. I do not believe 
our Reg't. will march with Lord Cornwallis; 
if it does not we shall be about Camden, and 
I look for the unspeakable happiness of see- 
ing you in Savannah about the beginning of 
May. How heavy and unsupportable will 
the minutes be till then. 

Adieu my darling Betsy, 

W. M. J. 

Charles Town, Jan. 3, 1781. 
My dear Bess: 

I this day had the unspeakable satisfaction 
of receiving your letter. To know that you 
were well and with your friends has afforded 
me a pleasure to which I have been a stran- 
ger ever since our cruel separation. Yet I 
am not satisfied ; in my Betsy's presence alone 
190 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

am I to expect happiness. I am surprised I 
did not get a letter from my father. It 
must be owing to his not knowing of the op- 
portunity. I hope I may hear from him be- 
fore I join the army. I have sent for horses 
and shall go for Camden as soon as the 
money for the Reg't. is drawn, which will be 
as soon as the Quartermaster- General comes 
to town. I wish it was possible for me to go 
to Savannah with propriety; it is not, how- 
ever, and my Betsey I am convinced would 
not subject me to censure for any considera- 
tion whatever. Rest assured that as soon as 
possible I shall fly on the wings of love to 
all my happiness, my darling wife. 
Adieu. 

Your W. M. J. 

Charles Tovfii, January ^, 1781. 

My dear Betsey: 

I wrote you two letters last week, one by 
Capt. Cozens, who carried a bandbox which 
I hope you have received. One or two boats 
have arrived from Savannah without my hear- 
ing from you, which has been a great disap- 
pointment to me, for tho' 'tis but a few days 
since I received your letters I am anxious to 

191 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

hear from you again. To know that my Bet- 
sey is well is what only can afford me pleas- 
ure in her absence. Write very often, and 
particularly how you spend your time, who is 
most friendly and attentive to you, and I'll 
love them for their attention. Write that 
you are well but not very happy. Don't 
think me ungenerous, my Bess, when I tell 
you I would not be pleased to think you were 
perfectly happy in my absence, yet I am sure 
your happiness is dearer to me than my own 
life. This sentiment may appear strange to 
some, yet 'tis the language of love and my 
Betsey perfectly understands it. Remember 
me to my father and the girls. My father 
owes me two letters, and the girls a great 
many; they have not thanked me for the 
buckles yet, tho' I suppose you have taken 
the merit of that present to yourself. Your 
father will be in Savannah soon. Adieu. 
Your W. M. J. 

Savannah, /an. lo, 1781. 

My dearest Husband: 

I rec'd yours of the 3d inst, which gave 
me a pleasure I have long been a stranger to. 
I have written you several letters since my 
192 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

arrival here & wish you may have rec'd 
them safe, tis the only satisfaction left us 
now, & that's but trifling when compared to 
the unspeakable anxiety our cruel separation 
occasions. 

Oh my dear husband you cannot imagine 
the uneasiness your last letter gave me, where 
you mention intending soon to join the 
army. Why not give me one kind look be- 
fore you go still farther; there certainly can 
be no impropriety in your being here for a 
few days. Indeed when I parted with you, 
you promised to accompany my father up, 
but I fear you then intended to deceive me. 
I do not wish you to act improperly, but my 
husband I'm no stoic. I cannot think of 
your joining the army without shuddering. 
The danger you will be constantly expos'd to 
is more than I can support, & I have not 
courage even to hope. I see no prospect just 
now of any thing worth your acceptance offer- 
ing in the civil line, but I would be satis- 
fied with a very little rather than live under 
such dreadful apprehensions for your safety. 
Your constitution will not bear the fatigue 
of a soldier's life, where you must always be 
exposed to the inclemency of the weather. 

193 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

In short, while you continue in the army, 
wretchedness must be my portion. You 
promised me your picture in miniature, pray 
don't forget it, as you know not half the 
pleasure I shall receive, especially when de- 
prived of the dear original. Were I to write 
volumes it would only be a repetition of how 
much I suffer by your absence, & how ar- 
dently I wish to see you. I entreat & beg 
you will be careful of your precious health, 
which is dearer to me than my own. 

And now I must bid you farewell, & may 
every guardian angel attend & shield you 
from all dangers is the constant prayer of 
your distressed wife, 

Eliza Johnston. 

Savannah, /«w. i6, 1781. 
My dearest Husband : 

An opportunity offers in the morning 
which I cannot fail of embracing, tho it is 
now very late & exceedingly cold. The 
pleasure I receive from writing my dearest 
husband is not to be expressed, and is only 
to be equalled by hearing often from you, a 
happiness I have but once experienced since 
I left Charlestown. This seems a little unac- 
194 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

countable when there have been four or five 
opportunities lately from thence. I would 
not for the world attribute your not writing 
to negligence, but would rather believe that 
you did not know of the chances. To sup- 
pose the former would make me wretched in- 
deed, but the confidence I do and ever shall 
place in my dear, good man, removes every 
doubt on that head. I have a distant hope 
of seeing you soon, and expect to be agree- 
ably surprised with a sight of you when I 
least expect it. I need not desire you to 
come as soon as possible, well knowing how 
equally anxious you are to see your fond, 
affectionate wife, whose whole happiness 
consists in your being with her. I wrote you 
the day before yesterday a long letter, indeed 
I never omit writing when opportunities 
offer. This goes by land in charge of Mr. 
Stork. I enclose you a watch paper, & beg 
you'll keep it for my sake. Do remember my 
advice to you in a former letter about gam- 
ing, tho I should hope you will not act con- 
trary to my wishes in a matter so easily to be 
complyed with. Adieu. 

Your E. Johnston. 



195 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Savannah, Jan. j6, 1781. 
My dearest Husband: 

I wrote you twice this morning, I cannot 
say by whom as your brother forwarded them. 
You will receive this by Quan who goes to- 
morrow. I find so much pleasure & satisfac- 
tion in often writing my dearest husband 
that were it possible for opportunities to offer 
hourly I should not fail embracing them all. 
My father's stay with us is short, as he in- 
tends leaving this next Friday. The gentle- 
man whom he came in quest of had left here 
a few nights before his arrival. Certainly he 
is a base wretch, & has given my father an 
immensity of trouble. 

I have enclosed a memo, for a few articles 
which are not to be purchased here. You 
will pardon my troubling you with my trifling 
commissions ; be assured nothing but neces- 
sity could induce me to ask a thing of you 
which really your sex have no business with. 
You'll probably think it encroaching beyond 
the privileges of a wife. 

And I must intreat that you'll write me 

often, likewise your father, who is always 

happy to hear from you, tho' I am sorry to say 

he does not often enjoy that pleasure. He is 

196 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

exceedingly fond of your greyhound, as well 
as myself. She sleeps in the room with me 
every night, and when I awake I generally 
find her in bed with me. Send your picture 
by the first opportunity that offers, for I shall 
be very anxious until it arrives and much dis- 
appointed if 'tis not a strong resemblance. 
If it was the dear original I expected, with 
what pleasure would I anticipate our meeting. 
Can you not contrive, my dearest Love, to 
see your anxious Bess soon, as I have been 
some time from you .'* Surely there can be no 
impropriety in your paying me a short visit. 
Consider 'tis to see a wife who fondly doats 
on her husband, & whose constant and ardent 
prayers shall be daily offered up for his pres- 
ervation and speedy return to the arms of her 
whose happiness alone consists in his dear 
presence. 

Adieu, my Love. 

Your Eliza Johnston. 

Charles Town, Jany. i8, 1781. 

My dear Bess: 

I have written two Letters by your father, 
but his being detained a half hour longer 
affords me an opportunity of writing a few 

197 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

more lines to my dearest girl. I have sent 
you an Italian hound which is a great favourite 
of mine and therefore no trifling present. 
She has been witness to many a solitary hour 
I have spent since your absence, and by her 
fawning has seemed to sympathize in my anx- 
iety. Save for me one of her handsomest 
pups. 

Once more adieu, my beloved wife. 

W. J. 

January 24, 1781. 

My dearest Love: 

Mr. Townshend this instant called to let 
me know he was going off immediately, an 
opportunity I could not fail of embracing, tho' 
I hardly have time for more than a few lines. 
A long letter, however, will be needless as I 
have already written you twice within these 
three days. I have only to request that you 
will be equally diligent in writing frequently, 
as 'tis the only pleasure I enjoy in your ab- 
sence. You can have no conception how very 
insipidly time passes in your absence. The 
town is pretty gay just now but I have no rel- 
ish for any amusement without my best of 
husbands. You know I am of a domestic 
198 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

disposition, and so have always preferred your 
society to all the amusements art could sug- 
gest. Happy should I esteem myself were I 
banished from the world and allowed no com- 
pany but yours; the meanest hovel would 
satisfy my unambitious mind, and I cannot 
forbear accusing fortune of cruelty in having 
dealt her favours with a niggard hand. 

Adieu, my ever dearest and best of men, 
may God for ever bless and protect you fer- 
vently prays your 

Eliza Johnston. 

Poor Mr. Wyley died yesterday after a 
painful illness. 

Savannah, April 22,, 1781. 
My dear William: 

It is with pleasure I inform you that Mr. 
Wylly called this morning to acquaint your 
Father that the troop of horse so long spoken 
of is now actually to be raised for the de- 
fence of this Province, but the latter does not 
think it worth your acceptance as the pay is 
only ten shillings per day. Mr. Wylly in- 
tends writing you on the subject, and I think 
you may get it if you choose to apply. 

I am convinced your feelings in the matter 

199 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

are similar to mine, and doubt not of your 
accepting a thing that may enable us to live 
together, as my present life is wretched in- 
deed. Not even my infant's smiles can com- 
pensate to me for your absence. I have long 
been expecting my father, and I wonder at 
his stay. I hope for a large pacquet by him. 
And, my dear, let me remind you of the 
promise you have made me not to enter again 
into that dreadful vice, gaming. Consider the 
difficulties it had nearly involved you in and 
shudder. Oh think of my happiness, think 
of your child who claims your support, and 
for his sake do not persist in what may end 
in your total ruin. Your father will also 
write you. Adieu my love. 

Your affectionate wife, 

Eliza Johnston. 

Charles Town, April i^,, 1781. 
My Bess: 

Your dear letter (which I this minute re- 
ceived) gives me a pleasure which I have 
been for some time unacquainted with, and I 
almost forget the cruel feelings which our 
separation must ever create. Yes, my dear 
girl, I would with pleasure accept of what 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

you wish and mention, for a bare sufficiency 
with you would to me be more luxurious than 
the splendor of a crown without you. I have 
written Mr. Wylly particularly. Your father 
has been detained by business, but sets out 
in about a week for Savannah. I am afraid I 
shall lose this opportunity. 
Adieu my love. 

W. M. J. 

Charles Town, April 2^, 1781. 
My dear Bess: 

I arrived here after a pleasant passage of 
three days. I am tolerably well, but how 
shall I express the anxiety that has disturbed 
my heart ever since I left all that's most 
dear to me. A thousand feelings which till 
now I have been a stranger to fill me with 
fears hardly to be borne. What would I at 
this moment not give to behold my darling 
wife and lovely babe, but this is a pleasure I 
must long be unacquainted with, and the pain 
which this cruel separation must always cre- 
ate can only be alleviated by often hearing 
from my dearest Betsey. I shall send as 
many of the things you want as I can recol- 
lect, by your father, who goes in a few days, 

201 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

but I have lost the memorandum. The pic- 
ture which you will receive is thought to be a 
very good likeness. You will also receive a 
locket, on one side your mother's hair & on 
the other side mine. If you do not want the 
locket you now have, enclose it to me in your 
next with a lock of your hair & some of my 
dear boy's. I do not think I shall leave town 
before Qua returns. Send the two bedsteads 
& Juno by him. Adieu, my dearest Bess, 
give my sweet little fellow a thousand kisses 
for me. Your W. M. J. 

Charles Town, April 2^, 1781. 
My dear Bess : 

I but this minute heard of Mr. Tattnal's 
going for Savannah, and with pleasure em- 
brace the opportunity of writing you a few 
lines. I cannot tell you how anxious I am to 
hear that you & my dear little boy are well. 
Mr. T. will deliver your three fans, which 
you will dispose of as you please ; they were 
all I could get just now, but by your father 
I will send one of a different fashion for 
yourself, and one of the same kind as these, 
which I suppose will fall to Laleah's lot. 
You'll also receive a handsome coral for my 

202 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

sweet little fellow, though I am sure it can- 
not add to his loveliness. I wrote you a 
letter by Qua, which I am in doubts of your 
receiving, as 'tis said he is taken. It is uncer- 
tain when I shall be able to join the Regt. as 
Camden is close besieged by Greene's army. 
Lord Cornwallis has marched from Wilming- 
ton, I suppose for the relief of Camden, tho' 
we are not in the least apprehensive but Lord 
Rawdon can of himself defend the place. 
Greene made two attacks on a mill adjacent to 
Camden and on which our troops chiefly de- 
pend for provisions, in both of which he was 
repulsed. The latter part of this letter is in- 
tended for my father. I would have written 
him, but Mr. T. waits for this. 

Adieu, my darling Bess. I am well but 
cannot be happy while absent from you. 

W. M. J. 

Charles Town, May ii, 1781. 
My dear Bess : 

Your two letters by Mr. Charlton this mo- 
ment came to hand. I need not say how 
happy they made me. I have counted every 
tedious moment as it pass'd since I last heard 
from you. I should have left town yesterday 

203 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

but my anxiety to hear from you and some 
little business induced me to ask leave for a 
few days indulgence in town. I am in treaty 
about the sale of my company with an officer 
of the 6oth Regt, tho' I fear he will not be 
able to make it worth my while, unless I were 
sure of something in Savannah. I will be 
more particular in my next. 
May God ever bless my Betsy. 

W. Johnston. 

May 25, 1781. 

My dearest Husband: 

I embrace this opportunity by Qua of writ- 
ing a few lines to my dearest and best of 
men, whose greatest satisfaction I am sensible 
of is hearing from his Bess. And it shall be 
my endeavour to increase as much as possible 
the happiness of a husband who is dearer to 
me than life. I am anxiously expecting my 
father, and hope for an immense pacquet. 
Write frequently, let me only hear that you 
are well and I will be satisfied, for you know 
not to what an excess I doat on my generous, 
kind William. You are the idol of my fond 
& constant heart, and in you I can repose 
every anxious thought. Perhaps we may yet 
204 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

enjoy the sweets of domestic life & be freed 
from the cares & disquietudes which a sol- 
dier's life creates ; would that happy day were 
arrived. One thing I take the liberty of 
hinting, as 'tis to our mutual advantage. 
You must know, my dear husband, your pro- 
pensity to play; 'tis a great misfortune, espe- 
cially as your family are increasing; but as I 
flatter myself you upon reflection detest it 
as much as myself, 'tis my earnest prayer and 
entreaty that you will guard against a vice so 
destructive and ruinous in its nature. In 
your last, you regret not being deserving of 
me ; I fear that sentence took its rise from 
your having broke through the solemn prom- 
ise you made me of never risking your inter- 
est and my happiness at the gaming table 
again. 

Your son is better. He is a handsome, 
sweet fellow, only he has receiv'd a rather 
large proportion of your passionate temper. 
I have at last got your picture, 'tis thought a 
good likeness, but for my part I cannot think 
you have had justice done you. The painter 
has given it a sour look, and made the com- 
plexion much darker than yours ; in short I 
want the dear original. My father has re- 

205 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

fused the troop, the service being too fa- 
tiguing. The rebels encroach fast upon us, 
and have been within five miles of the town. 
I am very drowsy and must wish you a good 
night. 

Adieu, my dearest Love. 
Yours truly, 

Eliza Johnston. 

Savannah, September 20, 1781. 

My dearest W. : 

I eagerly embrace the opportunity by Mr. 
McPherson of entreating you to come to 
town before you march ; if you can with pro- 
priety, pray oblige me. My dearest of men 
you know not how very anxious I am to see 
you. Pray don't think of moving whilst a su- 
perior force of the enemy are so nigh. Pru- 
dence is as necessary a requisite as true cour- 
age, and as you have ever given proof of the 
latter no one will doubt your having it. My- 
self and child are well, come and see the 
sweet boy, and don't miss such frequent op- 
portunities of writing as you have hitherto 
done. Your affectionate 

E. Johnston. 



206 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Savannah, November 3, 1781. 

My dear Husband: 

I received your dear and welcome letter 
this afternoon by Mr. McPherson. I cannot 
express to you my feelings when I heard of 
your being safe. I could only give it vent by 
pouring forth my thanks to my Maker for 
preserving the husband and father. I think 
we can never be sufficiently thankful; had it 
not been for the interposition of Providence 
what a wretch should I this night have been, 
alas, an afflicted widow with a helpless or- 
phan. I cannot be easy until I see you, my 
beloved husband. I must be anxious, but I 
hope that happiness will not long be denyed 
me. My Andrew is well, and a fine lovely 
boy he is. Give my love and duty to my 
father, let him know the vessel has not yet 
arrived with his things. And may the Al- 
mighty continue to protect & bless you both 
is the fervent prayer of your 

E. Johnston. 

Charlestown, August is, 1782. 
My dear Husband: 

I rec'd yours, and am happy to inform you 
that Andrew is no worse, tho' I see no mate- 

207 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

rial alteration for the better. I rode out yes- 
terday with him, and mean to do so while I 
can. I still keep well, and have no reason to 
expect being otherwise for this week to come. 
Let me beg to see you to-morrow or the day 
after. 'Tis cruel not to visit me often, espe- 
cially when 'tis through your means the Regi- 
ment are kept on the Island in preference to 
Charlestown. I must compare you to the old 
Romans in ancient times, who were so disin- 
terested as to sacrifice wives & children and 
every other consideration for the welfare of 
their country. Do, my Regulus, be less 
rigid, and come before the anxiously expected 
yet dreaded hour arrives. I am told of a 
vessel being sighted, and it is reported, a 
fleet of thirteen sail, which I believe is un- 
certain. Send some butter and melons. 
Remember I look for you to-morrow. 
Adieu. 

E. Johnston. 

St. AvGVSTiiiE, January 3, 1783. 

My dear Husband : 

I arrived here a few days ago after a te- 
dious passage of three weeks. We were de- 
tained a week off St. John's, waiting for a 
208 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

convoy round, and were obliged to come 
without at last, as the anchoring off that bar 
was by no means safe. 

I found all your family well but much dis- 
satisfied with their situation. It is a dread- 
ful winter country, constantly wet or cloudy. 
I have not seen a fair day since my arrival. 
I repent sincerely of not going with you to 
New York, as I doubt not of your doing by 
this time. I wish it may answer for the 
best, tbo' it will cost me many months un- 
easiness until we meet. I expect to join you 
in the spring, if you do not arrive here in 
the interim. 

I cannot advise with regard to your future 
prospects in life; at present they appear in a 
most unfavourable light. At the same time 
I am very anxious for your settling soon, to 
enable us living together, for what is life 
when separated from my kind William } In- 
deed, my love, my heart overflows with grati- 
tude when I reflect how happily my lot has 
fallen to get so good and kind a husband. 
My Andrew has been unwell since our 
arrival, but is much recovered. As for 
Kate, she is a sweet, healthy girl and very 
pretty. 

209 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Out of the last fleet from Charlestown 
there have been sixteen sail of small vessels 
lost on and about the Bar. There are six or 
eight high on the beach. One of these had 
the greatest part of Dr. Baron's property on 
board, and I much fear he will be a great 
sufferer. 'Tis amazing how such a place 
was ever settled. Will you send me your pic- 
ture in miniature ? If it is a good likeness, I 
shall prize it highly. Embrace every oppor- 
tunity of writing, and take care of your pre- 
cious health ; don't think of entering into the 
cavalry. Remember me to Mrs. Thomas, 
and Miss Hatch and her sister. 

Adieu, may heaven bless my dearest Love 
fervently prays Your 

E. Johnston. 

St. Augustine, April 20, 1783. 
My dearest Love: 

I have already written you a few lines by 
this opportunity. I flatter myself I shall 
now see you very soon, and I hope to have 
my expectations confirmed by the return of 
Dr. Eraser's schooner, which is expected im- 
mediately. I was determined to sail, the 
first good chance that offered, for New York, 
21Q 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

had not a packet arrived from London with 
the accounts of a peace being made, with 
terms most shameful to Britain. The war 
never occasioned half the distress which this 
peace has done, to the unfortunate Loyalists. 
No other provision has been made than just 
recommending them to the clemency of Con- 
gress, which is in fact casting them off alto- 
gether. We have had no accounts from 
Georgia since they received word of the 
peace, but we fear their prosperity will not 
tend to moderate them. 

Should your Regiment be ordered to Can- 
ada or Nova Scotia I beg you will send for 
me, unless you should get leave of absence. 
I wish you here chiefly on your father's ac- 
count, who is unwell both in body and mind 
as he lets this news of a peace prey too much 
on his spirits. But how can it be avoided 
with such a family and such prospects — 'tis 
enough to distract him. My children are 
well — Andrew is a great prattler and Kate 
thrives finely. She is a sprightly, good-na- 
tured slut, with a pair of lovely blue eyes. 
You have my measure for shoes, which article 
I am much in need of. Be careful of your 
cash & buy nothing else for me, I must give 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

up finery altogether now, but that will be no 
sacrifice to me. 

Adieu my Love. 

Yours truly, 

Eliza Johnston. 

St. Augustine, October ii, 1783. 

My dearest William: 

I wrote you a few days ago by Mr. Peter- 
son, who goes to Halifax and has promised to 
forward my letter immediately from thence. 
The Almighty send you safe and speedily to 
Edinburgh, where you will embrace (I hope) 
every opportunity of improving and making 
yourself useful in your profession. Oh my 
husband, was it not for the pleasing hope that 
a short time will render us independent of 
your good father (whom I have long been a 
burthen on) I could not at all support your 
absence. 

Sometimes my extreme tenderness and 
anxiety for you make me anticipate the 
greatest evils ; you know I ever had a strong 
bent that way. The thought of the coast of 
England in the winter season terrifies me. 
You that are my only refuge and hope, can I 
be too anxious for your safety, my best, my 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

only friend ? Would but my father be gen- 
erous and kind, and send for me, your half pay 
(which I must at any rate draw in America) 
would support myself and children very well 
in England with him, and I should have a 
happiness to which I am now a stranger. 
My whole time is spent in my own room, and 
I find my love of solitude hourly increases. 
'Tis pleasing to indulge melancholy when it 
is occasioned by the absence of those we 
fondly love. A thousand tender scenes arise 
in my memory, which please and pain by 
turns my afflicted heart, but never can I for- 
get the agonies which rent my heart that 
morning which deprived me of my dearest 
of men. When I wish my tears to flow in 
torrents, then I paint our cruel separation in 
its most horrid colours. To increase my 
wretchedness, my darling girl does not re- 
cover her strength or flesh, tho' she has cut 
most of her teeth, which was the cause of her 
illness. My boy is quite well and so engag- 
ing, he moves my heart with his fond endear- 
ments, which he was always so lavish in be- 
stowing on his happy father. The evening 
before you left us how fondly did he cling 
about you, as if he had a presentiment of the 

213 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

loss he was to sustain for a long time ; but I 
pain your parental breast too severely by re- 
calling scenes which are not to be recalled to 
memory without the most poignant grief. 

If I could only hear of your safe arrival 
my mind would be much easier, I must there- 
fore wait patiently for that event. 

We have accounts in town that the Flori- 
das are to be held, but 'tis not generally 
credited. The troops embarked yesterday for 
Halifax, and those that chose to remain were 
disbanded a week ago. All is very quiet as 
yet ; the militia turn out with great alacrity 
and I hope nothing disagreeable will happen. 

We had a dreadful gale of wind a few days 
ago, which caused a general alarm, as the tide 
rose above Payne's corner. I wish I were 
safe from the country. I hope soon to hear 
from my loved William, who I must beg 
will write long and tender letters. Be cir- 
cumstantial in all the little incidents that 
occur to you, it will amuse me. You will, I 
am sure, be a great economist, and you need 
send me nothing but a few magazines. Mrs. 
Catherwood is very polite and friendly. I 
have had several books from her which I was 
at a loss to procure and I find reading an 
214 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

excellent amusement when I am inclined 
to be melancholy. 

I know not how to quit my pen and very 
frequently forget and suppose myself in con- 
versation with you, tho' I should not forget 
the hint once given me that my letters were 
lengthened beyond my good sense in general. 
Capt. Randall will take charge of this. And 
now I bid adieu to my ever dearest of men ; 
may every blessing attend you for your kind- 
est care and attention to your once truly 
happy, tho' now afflicted wife, 

Eliza Johnston. 

St. AvGVSTlliE, January 2, 1784. 

My dear William : 

I am happy that an opportunity offers of 
writing my best beloved, whose arrival I am 
now extremely anxious to hear of, especially 
as you sailed in a boisterous season of the 
year; but God I hope has through His infinite 
mercy preserved a life far dearer than my 
own. Your father has rec'd many applica- 
tions from Charleston for the purchase of his 
negroes, & the best security in that country 
is offered, but he wishes the interest to be 
secured in England, which I fear will not be 

215 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

in their power. He has written the terms, 
and is now in expectation of a final answer. 
I have a presentiment that the answers will 
agree with my wishes. Seven transports 
have arrived at St. Mary's from New York, for 
the use of the Loyalists. It will be a great 
expense saved, your father having his family 
transported passage free. Every person 
seems anxious for the packet's arrival, which 
has been long expected. I wish she may 
have been detained, as I may thus hope to hear 
of your arrival, news which will amply com- 
pensate me for the uneasiness her stay in 
general occasions. 

I meant to write you by Col. Deveaux, who 
promised to call for my letter, but his carry- 
ing off a Miss Warner obliged him to make a 
precipitate retreat. This place is extremely 
dull for want of arrivals from England, I al- 
most wish for the Spaniards, to cause a little 
bustle. My children (thanks to that All 
Merciful Being who preserved them) are both 
well. We can never be sufficiently thankful 
for the miraculous recovery of our beloved 
girl, who is now quite well and just begins to 
step alone. Andrew is grown remarkably fat 
and often speaks of you. 
216 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Mr. Baillie leaves town this evening, who 
is to have charge of this. Another opportu- 
nity will offer in about a month, when I hope 
to write more fully and of a certainty what 
our route will be. I hope you have seen my 
dear parent, how happy should I feel myself 
in meeting him once more. A ship has just 
appeared, I hope 'tis the long expected pack- 
et. Could I but have a few lines from my 
dear William what a happiness would it be 
to your Bess. My children kiss you through 
me. Adieu my best of men. May every 
angel guard and protect your precious life, 
and oh may we shortly meet, never more to 
part in this life. Once more adieu, my dar- 
ling husband. 

Your Eliza Johnston. 

N. B. We have just heard from the ship, 
which to our disappointment is not the pack- 
et but a transport from New York. She is 
one of eight that sailed for St. Mary's. 

St. AvGUSTiN-E, January 15, 1784. 

My dearest Husband : 

Yesterday I had the unspeakable pleasure 
of receiving yours by the brig Caroline. It 
was doubly satisfactory as I was anxious to 

217 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

hear of your safe arrival, you having sailed in 
a bad season of the year. Let me pour forth 
my gratitude and thanks to my Creator for 
the preservation of my husband and the hap- 
py recovery of my darling daughter. An- 
drew is quite well. I am somewhat sur- 
prised at your expecting such an infant 
should know his letters, who is not three 
years old yet, and think it full time a twelve- 
month hence to begin him. Many sensible 
people will tell you 'tis not right to stuff a 
child with learning before his mind has had 
time to expand. 

I suppose your short arrival in the city 
prevented your writing more fully. I wished 
much to hear whether you were better of that 
cruel disorder which distressed you so much 
when here. I am not just now in any par- 
ticular want of money, and as your father is 
still in suspense what his next move will be 
I shall not draw for any until we are better 
settled. Probably if your father disposes of 
his negroes he may go to Scotland, tho' I 
have my fears on that head, as from the flat- 
tering accounts the Loyalists there give of 
their large crops of indigo he seems to have 
an idea of Jamaica. I should be distressed 
218 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

to take my children to so very unhealthy a 
place. 

Your father is greatly surprised at your re- 
maining in London, as your studies might be 
prosecuted with more success in Edinburgh, 
and I fear he thinks your reasons not the best 
for determining as you have done. I cannot 
write my father at present, but an opportu- 
nity will offer shortly by which I shall write 
him. I am surprised he did not send the 
children toys as he promised them ; as for 
myself I want nothing. In your absence 
dress has no charms for me. I have neither 
spirits nor inclination to take part in any 
amusements. 

I have rec'd all the attention from your 
family that I could possibly wish for, Mrs. 
Wood not excepted, who has paid me more 
attention than I had reason to expect after 
the cruel manner in which you behaved to 
her. I am yours truly, 

Eliza Johnston. 

St. Augustine, Feby. 3, 1784. 
My dear Husband: 

I have just rec'd yours of the 17th Novem- 
ber. Words cannot express my feelings 

219 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

upon hearing of your illness. To think my 
William should have been in danger and 
not one tender friend to administer comfort 
and pay that attention which is both pleasing 
and necessary to a sick person. You wrote 
a letter to your father during your illness, 
which I was kept ignorant of. I have this 
instant rec'd another letter of 6th Decem- 
ber, which says not a word of your precious, 
health. 

I wish you had been more particular on that 
head, as the good health of you and my chil- 
dren is the greatest satisfaction I can have. 
How much am I obliged to you, my dearest 
Love, for granting me leave to accompany 
your father if I please, which, be assured, I 
do most readily. If he determines on going 
to England you may depend on seeing me. I 
have written you repeatedly since you left 
me and cannot suppose you think your Bess 
inattentive, whose gratitude as well as ten- 
derest love would induce her to write you by 
every opportunity. Therefore dispel every 
melancholy idea, and hope in the spring to 
be blest with your wife and dear infants. 
Your brother Lewis has written you of the 
sad accident which Andrew met with by a 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

fall from a balcony. His thigh bone was 
snapped in the middle, but it happily was not 
splintered and he is now perfectly recovered. 
'Tis amazing with what patience he bore the 
pain and confinement attending it. My Kate 
is perfectly well & runs alone but is the 
greatest vixen in Florida. I am uneasy at 
not hearing from my father, but as you did 
not mention him think still there must be a 
, letter somewhere for me. 

This has been a day of sad confusion and 
has occasioned many long faces, as the people 
here were quite sanguine in the expectation 
of the two Floridas being held. The arrival 
of a packet, however, has dashed their hopes 
and made their disappointment unspeakable. 
Your father remains still at a loss what to de- 
termine with regard to his next movement, he 
not having rec'd answers from Charleston 
with respect to the sale of his negroes. I 
must bid you adieu, with my earnest prayers 
for your future health and safety, which God 
Almighty preserve. Yours, 

Eliza Johnston. 



221 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

St. Augustine, February 12, 1784. 

My dearest Husband : 

I have written you repeatedly lately, but 
must not omit a few lines more to congratu- 
late you on the happy prospect we have of 
meeting early in the summer. I cannot de- 
scribe my feelings but I am all impatience to 
be gone, and I hope by the middle of April 
we shall sail from St. Mary's. The trans- 
ports that we expect from England are not 
arrived, but I hope for a large pacquet by 
them. You have disappointed me greatly in 
the letter way, yours being shorter and less 
particular than I could have wished. Every 
trifle that concerns my William would give 
me pleasure. Your father has disposed of 
your negroes for four hundred & fifty pounds, 
Colonel Brown was the purchaser. I kept 
Hagar as a nurse for the expected stranger, 
who I hope will shortly make its appearance. 
I anticipate your feelings when kissing the 
lovely infants, for I hope my little expected 
will live to bless his anxious mother with a 
smile. Your sister Laleah accompanies your 
father to Scotland, being in a bad state of 
health, but I hope the change of climate will 

222 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

be productive of every good she can wish, for 
she is a most amiable woman. It will much 
embitter the happiness I look for in meeting 
with my husband should you not receive her 
with that tender affection which she is deserv- 
ing of. Mrs. W. declares herself ignorant of 
the cause of your displeasure, nor indeed can 
I give a reason strong enough to induce you 
so to lay aside all brotherly affection as never 
once to mention her in your letters ; it hurts 
me severely. I did not suspect you of so un- 
feeling a heart as you have shown on this oc- 
casion. For my sake then, meet all your 
friends as if nothing disagreeable had ever 
passed, and be assured should you refuse this 
request I never will forgive your cruelty. If 
you had seen your sister Mrs. W.'s distress 
when your son met with that accident, and 
her attention to him, I am confident you 
would blush to think how ill you have treated 
her. I hope I need say no more on this sub- 
ject in future. Adieu. 

Your tenderly affectionate 

Eliza Johnston. 



223 



Recollections of a Georgia Loyalist 

Greenoch, July i8, 1784. 

My dearest Husband : 

'Tis impossible, wholly impossible, to con- 
vey an idea of the joy I feel at being safely 
anchored in this port, but I feel a damp on my 
spirits in anticipating your sufferings and 
your anxiety on our account, occasioned by 
our arriving later than you had reason to ex- 
pect from the letters you no doubt received. 
We did not leave St. Mary's until the 30th 
of May, and we were in the Cove of Cork a 
week. We shall remain here some days un- 
til Doctor Johnston goes to Glasgow and 
procures us lodgings there for a short time. I 
shall experience many anxious moments until 
I hear from my dear husband. Oh may an 
All Gracious Providence have preserved my 
tenderest and best of men for a happy meet- 
ing once more with his anxious wife. 

Mrs. Wood has accompanyed us and is 
ready to lie in. Remember my request in a 
former letter, and let her not, I beseech you, 
be shocked in her present situation by any 
unkind behaviour of yours, but meet her, my 
Love, as if nothing had passed. The children 
are well. Adieu my Love. 

Your Eliza Johnston. 

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